By Sean Evans (Contributer) – Email
Spring is in the air, and that means two things: warmer weather and the push for the playoffs. The Abbotsford Heat is right in the thick of it. With just a handful of games remaining and an extremely tight Westerm Division, there is sure to be a fight to the end.
While the Heat do stand poised to make a push for the post-season, the ‘hockey gods’ have not done them any favours of late. After posting 19 points in 18 games, Alex Kotalik was recalled to Calgary on March 16. Adding to their woes, Greg Nemisz, who has 32 points to the season, was recalled on March 22. The loss of these two key players has certainly hindered the efforts of the Heat.
At a time when the Heat would have hoped to be gaining ground on their opponents, they dropped a pair of games to the rival Manitoba Moose on the weekend of the 25th – two games that may ultimately cost them a playoff berth.
Divisional rivalries are sure to continue to flare as the final nine games of the season are within their division. Notably, the Heat will play Hamilton four times during the final stretch. Those four games are likely to determine whether the Heat will see post-season action. To date, the Heat have won three of four against Hamilton.
With just ten points separating the Heat from first place in their division, the last weeks of the season are setting up to be dramatic.
Prepping for the playoff push, the Heat bolstered their roster with the addition of three new players on March 25. Defenceman Russ Sinkewich was signed to a professional tryout, and defenceman Josh Van Dyk and centre Justin Dowling were signed to amateur tryout contracts.
While these are not major deals, they may prove to be helpful in the last days of the season. With injuries and recalls to the Flames, the Heat has improved its chances of making a run for the post-season.
In other news, the head office of the Heat has denied rumours that they could be on the move.
If the Phoenix Coyotes relocate to Winnipeg, the Manitoba Moose will need to find a new home. Abbotsford has been suggested. CKNW reported in the second week of March that there have been talks of possibly moving the Heat to Chilliwack, while the WHL Bruins would relocate to Victoria. This would leave the Abbotsford Entertainment Centre available for the Manitoba Moose.
Canucks fans: don’t get too excited just yet. Clearly these are just rumours and should be treated as such, but this story will likely develop over the next six months.
All that said, the final weeks of the season guarantee to entertain.
