By Tim Ubels (Contributor) – Email
The Abbotsford Heat finished up a four game home stand on Saturday night with only one win to show for it.
After dropping two games to the Charlotte Checkers last week, the Heat split their two game series with the Houston Aeros, snapping their season-worst seven game losing streak. Goaltender Leland Irving picked up the win on Friday night, but Barry Brust continued to struggle in his crease, letting in five goals for a second straight game.
On Friday night, the Heat hosted their second annual “Pink in the Rink” night at the Abbotsford Sports and Entertainment Centre, a fundraiser to raise awareness of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s Run for the Cure. The night featured “Think Pink” tattoos provided by local Abbotsford business Memento Mori Studios, who, in partnership with the Abbotsford Heat, offered a pink ribbon tattoo along with two tickets to Friday’s game for just $100. The ceremonial puck drop was conducted by two-time breast cancer survivor Feather Bryce, who also sang rousing versions of both the Canadian and American national anthems. With her two young daughters at her side, Feather bravely performed in front of thousands of hockey fans, who afterwards gave her a standing ovation.
The action between the Heat and Aeros started out very chippy, with big hits being thrown all over the ice and constant scrums ensuing after the whistles. The Heat were playing desperate, sacrificing their bodies to block shots and make plays, and generally looking like a team that the didn’t want to drop another game. Max Reinhart, Quintin Laing and newcomer Mike Testwuide were all throwing their weight around early, sparking some early chances for the Heat, who were unable to solve Matt Hackett until late in the first period when Andy Bohmbach picked up his first goal for the Heat since being called up from the ECHL.
A tough second period for the Heat finished with them trailing 2-1, after Stephane Veilleux and Justin Fontaine both potted goals for the Aeros to give them the lead. A questionable hit by Heat forward Carter Bancks on Steven Kampfer landed him in the penalty box with a double minor. Bancks then had to pay for his hit, taking on Aeros forward David McIntyre in a quick fight.
In spite of having all of the momentum against them, the Heat turned it around early in the third period, after killing off Bancks’ double minor, Heat forward Ben Walter netted two straight power play goals, ending their drought of 27 straight power play opportunities without a goal. Walter’s first marker was due to great work in front of the net by Roman Horak, who poked the puck to Walter back door, leaving him alone to tap the puck into an open net. His second goal of the night was scored only four seconds into a power play, as Walter sniped the puck past a screened Hackett at 4:18 of the third period to put the Heat ahead for good.
Despite the victory that ended a long losing streak, Heat coach Troy G. Ward said after the game that the “Pink in the Rink” introductory ceremony was, “the best part of the game,” adding later that, “the family outplayed our performance.”
Saturday night’s game was a different story for the Heat, who fell 5-1 after giving up three power play goals to the Aeros, while only giving up one power play goal on seven opportunities the previous night. Houston rookie Johan Larsson had a monster game, picking up two goals and two assists and was the game’s first star. While both the Heat and the Aeros had their offensive opportunities in the game, the visiting team was faster on rebounds and had superior goaltending. Tender Matt Hackett, starting his second game in two nights, stood tall against the Heat pressure, stopping 24 of 25 shots in the game and earned the second star of the game.
Heat coach Ward spoke after the game about his team’s different makeup for Saturday night’s game after recent transactions, “we aren’t as hard as we used to be. We’re not nearly as fast. And so that coupled with bad special teams make for a bad recipe with this current team to play with.”
The Heat are set to head out on the road for seven games before they return to the ASEC on March 22 to take on the Rockford Icehogs for a two game home series against a streaking Rockford team that has won seven of their past ten games.
