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thymebalm · 11-23-2013, 01:01 PM

Abbotsford Heat (15-5-0-1) vs. Iowa Wild (6-9-0-0)
Puck drop tonight @ 5:05pm PST and tomorrow @ 3:05pm PST

The Abbotsford Heat look to continue their winning ways against a new team and an old rival. The Iowa Wild are in their inaugural season in the AHL, after relocating from Houston, Texas, where the team was formerly known as the Aeros. Much like the Utica Comets, Iowa has struggled to put up the Ws in it's first season, though the team has played 6(!) less games than the Heat so far this season.

A Walk On The Wild Side
The Iowa Wild's leader scorer should be a name familiar to Heat fans, as defenceman Brian Connelly (15GP 0-11-11) played for Abby for half a season back in 11-12. Beyond the Journeyman AHL pro, there is little scoring to be had on the Wild. Recent Graduates Justin Fountaine and Jason Zucker leave the farm team without their two most potent offensive threats from a season ago.

Much like the Heat, The Aeros are a young squad, with their 2 top forwards (Erik Haula (15GP 4-6-10) and Zack Phillips (15GP 3-5-8) entering only their 2nd seasons of pro hockey.

Other names that Heat fans might recognize are former Nashville blueliner Jonathan Blum, former Flame Warren Peters, and former Hitman standouts Carson McMillan and Kris Foucault.

Goaltending for the Wild has been split between euro rookie Johan Gustafsson (6GP 2.37 .918% 3W 1SO) and recently reassigned Darcy Kuemper (10GP 2.97 .908% 3W). Darcy was the previous backup to Matt Hacket, who left the organization in the Jason Pominville trade. My guess would be Gustafsson and Kuemper split starts this weekend.

Keeping The Fire Burning
No doubt that this weekend's two clashes will be a solid test for the young Abbotsford Heat squad. The Heat face the challenge of losing their leading scorer, the bruising, sniping, Blair Jones (16GP 8-12-20). Say what you want about his play at the NHL level, Jones is an AHL all-star. Jones departure creates the rare occasion where leading scorers on both sides are defenders. Chad Billins (17GP 6-12-18) has been nothing short of a revelation for the Flames Organization. A free agent signing, Billins has served time with both clubs this season and casually continues a PPG clip at both levels. Somewhat short on stature at 5'10", height appears to be the only thing missing from Billins resume.

After Billins, the offensive load has been split fairly evenly between the rookies and the veterans. The top ten point producers include 4 rookies and 6 veterans. Freshly acquired Corbin Knight (21GP 6-11-17 +8) leads that rookie group that includes Ben Hanowski (20GP 7-7-14), Marcus Granlund (17GP 7-5-12), and Michael Ferland (18GP 4-7-11).

Veterans carrying the load include Heat cornerstone Ben Street (14GP, 9-7-16), Paul Byron (21GP 4-11-15), Max Reinhart (17GP 3-10-13), Brett Olsen (20GP 4-8-12), and Greg Nemisz (19GP 3-4-7). It's this long list of contributions that have helped propel the Heat to #1 in the AHL standings, as well as #1 in goals for with 72.

Balancing the attack and helping out Chad Billins is a backend somewhat more laden with vets, as McKenzie, Breen, Lamb and Arsene are known entities at the AHL level. Rookie Ramage has been carrying the load for the rookies, especially since the injuries to Sieloff and Wotherspoon.

Finally, we arrive between the pipes of the Abbotsford net, where Joni Ortio and Joey MacDonald are sharing the load. Joni Ortio was undoubtably unprepared when he made his North American debut, as he proceeded to get lit up like a christmas tree in his first ever AHL start. He fled back to Europe, and some wondered if Joni Ortio would ever cross the divide again. Well he's back, and whatever work he put in over there is paying off. Ortio has yet to lose a game this season. In 8GP, he has a 2.54 GGA and .921 SV% to go along with those 8 wins, meaning he's worked hard for those Ws. Joey MacDonald (4GP 2.46 GGA .918 SV% 3W) hasn't faired quite as well in the win column, but has been good in all of his starts as well.

Final notes on this weekend's matchup: Lane McDermid is the newest member of the Heat after he was acquired for a 6th round pick earlier this week. The Heat lost team toughness on the top side of their rotation when Jones was called up, and that grit looks to be balanced back out on the bottom half of the roster with McDermid being added. I can see him playing on a line with Bancks and Olsen, and providing some solid physical contributions.

It'll be a true test of this young squad's conditioning as they attempt wrap up this massive road trip with consecutive wins on consecutive nights. Listen live starting 15 minutes before puck drop @ http://www.teamradio.ca/live/music-p...rts_event.html or tune in to Chilliwack's 101.7fm CIVL radio on your smart device.

GO HEAT GO!

11-23-2013, 01:01 PM	#990
thymebalm #1 Goaltender Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Vancouver Exp:	Abbotsford heat games #22, #23 Abbotsford Heat (15-5-0-1) vs. Iowa Wild (6-9-0-0) Puck drop tonight @ 5:05pm PST and tomorrow @ 3:05pm PST The Abbotsford Heat look to continue their winning ways against a new team and an old rival. The Iowa Wild are in their inaugural season in the AHL, after relocating from Houston, Texas, where the team was formerly known as the Aeros. Much like the Utica Comets, Iowa has struggled to put up the Ws in it's first season, though the team has played 6(!) less games than the Heat so far this season. A Walk On The Wild Side The Iowa Wild's leader scorer should be a name familiar to Heat fans, as defenceman Brian Connelly (15GP 0-11-11) played for Abby for half a season back in 11-12. Beyond the Journeyman AHL pro, there is little scoring to be had on the Wild. Recent Graduates Justin Fountaine and Jason Zucker leave the farm team without their two most potent offensive threats from a season ago. Much like the Heat, The Aeros are a young squad, with their 2 top forwards (Erik Haula (15GP 4-6-10) and Zack Phillips (15GP 3-5-8) entering only their 2nd seasons of pro hockey. Other names that Heat fans might recognize are former Nashville blueliner Jonathan Blum, former Flame Warren Peters, and former Hitman standouts Carson McMillan and Kris Foucault. Goaltending for the Wild has been split between euro rookie Johan Gustafsson (6GP 2.37 .918% 3W 1SO) and recently reassigned Darcy Kuemper (10GP 2.97 .908% 3W). Darcy was the previous backup to Matt Hacket, who left the organization in the Jason Pominville trade. My guess would be Gustafsson and Kuemper split starts this weekend. Keeping The Fire Burning No doubt that this weekend's two clashes will be a solid test for the young Abbotsford Heat squad. The Heat face the challenge of losing their leading scorer, the bruising, sniping, Blair Jones (16GP 8-12-20). Say what you want about his play at the NHL level, Jones is an AHL all-star. Jones departure creates the rare occasion where leading scorers on both sides are defenders. Chad Billins (17GP 6-12-18) has been nothing short of a revelation for the Flames Organization. A free agent signing, Billins has served time with both clubs this season and casually continues a PPG clip at both levels. Somewhat short on stature at 5'10", height appears to be the only thing missing from Billins resume. After Billins, the offensive load has been split fairly evenly between the rookies and the veterans. The top ten point producers include 4 rookies and 6 veterans. Freshly acquired Corbin Knight (21GP 6-11-17 +8) leads that rookie group that includes Ben Hanowski (20GP 7-7-14), Marcus Granlund (17GP 7-5-12), and Michael Ferland (18GP 4-7-11). Veterans carrying the load include Heat cornerstone Ben Street (14GP, 9-7-16), Paul Byron (21GP 4-11-15), Max Reinhart (17GP 3-10-13), Brett Olsen (20GP 4-8-12), and Greg Nemisz (19GP 3-4-7). It's this long list of contributions that have helped propel the Heat to #1 in the AHL standings, as well as #1 in goals for with 72. Balancing the attack and helping out Chad Billins is a backend somewhat more laden with vets, as McKenzie, Breen, Lamb and Arsene are known entities at the AHL level. Rookie Ramage has been carrying the load for the rookies, especially since the injuries to Sieloff and Wotherspoon. Finally, we arrive between the pipes of the Abbotsford net, where Joni Ortio and Joey MacDonald are sharing the load. Joni Ortio was undoubtably unprepared when he made his North American debut, as he proceeded to get lit up like a christmas tree in his first ever AHL start. He fled back to Europe, and some wondered if Joni Ortio would ever cross the divide again. Well he's back, and whatever work he put in over there is paying off. Ortio has yet to lose a game this season. In 8GP, he has a 2.54 GGA and .921 SV% to go along with those 8 wins, meaning he's worked hard for those Ws. Joey MacDonald (4GP 2.46 GGA .918 SV% 3W) hasn't faired quite as well in the win column, but has been good in all of his starts as well. Final notes on this weekend's matchup: Lane McDermid is the newest member of the Heat after he was acquired for a 6th round pick earlier this week. The Heat lost team toughness on the top side of their rotation when Jones was called up, and that grit looks to be balanced back out on the bottom half of the roster with McDermid being added. I can see him playing on a line with Bancks and Olsen, and providing some solid physical contributions. It'll be a true test of this young squad's conditioning as they attempt wrap up this massive road trip with consecutive wins on consecutive nights. Listen live starting 15 minutes before puck drop @ http://www.teamradio.ca/live/music-p...rts_event.html or tune in to Chilliwack's 101.7fm CIVL radio on your smart device. GO HEAT GO! __________________ Death by 4th round picks.