By Tim Ubels (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: January 8, 2014
Despite winning a rather pedestrian five of their past 10 games, the Abbotsford Heat sit a single point behind Grand Rapids for the top spot in the Western Conference. Their current position in the standings is disappointing, considering the Heat held the distinction of the AHL’s top team back in mid-December. After dropping a pair of games against the Utica Comets before the Christmas break, where they were outscored 7-2 by the league’s worst team, the Heat have shown some bounce back against Hamilton and Oklahoma City, finishing off 2013 with a three-game winning streak.
Jon Gillies backstops Team USA
Arguably the Flames’ top goaltending prospect playing outside their system, Jon Gillies recently represented his country on the national stage at the World Junior Hockey Championship. After an impressive start to the season playing for Providence College in the Hockey East conference, Gillies got the call to start for the United States national team, and with the glut of goaltenders at the professional level will likely vie for a spot in Abbotsford next season.
Gillies played well in the opening game against the Czech Republic, stopping 23 of 24 shots and holding off the Czech offense. The United States won 5-1. After a solid three games to start the round robin tournament, the team lost their last game to team Canada, forcing the United States to face off against Russia in the quarterfinals. Gillies made 20 saves in the 5-3 loss, as the United States were eliminated and Russia went on to win the bronze medal.
Greg Nemisz traded
On December 30, the Heat said goodbye to longtime forward Greg Nemisz, who was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for journeyman forward Kevin Westgarth. Nemisz, 23, was the Flames’ first-round selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, and had suited up for 15 games with the Flames since turning pro. However, with the emergence of offensive wingers Corban Knight, Ben Hanowski, Markus Granlund, and Max Reinhart, Nemisz was made expendable and was dealt by the organization.
The news of the Flames acquiring another black-and-blue player doesn’t come as too much of a surprise considering Brian Burke is momentarily steering the ship after Flames’ GM Jay Feaster was fired. This is the third trade in under a year where the Flames have acquired an enforcer, with Lance McDermid and Brian McGrattan already joining the Heat and Flames respectively. The only way this trade makes sense is if Flames coach Bob Hartley is looking to replace McGrattan with Westgarth, who is both younger and has a Stanley Cup ring from his time in Los Angeles.
Bryon gets the call
After missing half of the 2012-2013 season with a fractured left hand, Heat forward Paul Byron has been healthy at the right time this year, getting the call at the end of November to fill a Flames roster spot. The Flames organization has a tendency to rotate their young players in and out of their lineup, giving them a week or two at the NHL level, and then sending them back to the Heat to develop at the minor league level. However, Byron is a different story.
Dressing for 16 Flames games since November 28, the 5’7” winger has potted a pair of goals, racked up eight points, and looks to be right in his element playing alongside players like Sean Monahan and Matt Stajan.
Tokarski gets Bulldogs a pair of weekend wins
Hamilton Bulldogs netminder Dustin Tokarski was rock solid against the Heat this weekend, as he thwarted 54 of the 56 shots he faced over the weekend set in Abbotsford. Markus Granlund and Sven Baertschi each scored a goal for Abbotsford, as they lost 2-1 on Friday night and 3-1 on Saturday. The Heat begin their six-game road trip in San Antonio on Tuesday, January 7, and don’t return home until January 24 when they face off against the Canucks affiliate, the Utica Comets.
