by Justin Orlewicz (Sports Editor)
Email: cascade.sports[at]ufv.ca
After a shaky start at home, the Abbotsford Heat seem to have finally found their stride and managed to put up a winning record during their last home stand. The Heat started this home stretch with a dismal three losses in five games, and it looked like they were on their way to a loosing record during their eight games at home. However, the Heat had other plans and decided to turn up their play. They ended up winning their last three home games. The Heat will now leave on their road trip with a 5-3 record during their home stand and a three game winning streak going.
The Heat won their final game with the San Antonio Rampage. The Heats wining streak started when the Houston Areo’s came into town for a standard two game set. In game one with Houston, the Heat would dig themselves into a hole by going down 2-0 to the Aero’s in the second period, but the Heat would battle back with goals from Greg Nemisz and Carter Bancks to tie the game up and send it into overtime. This contest would need a shootout, where Jon Rheault would snipe the winner.
The second contest with the Houston Aero’s would paint a similar picture; again the Heat would get down by two goals, and then, in the third period, they would battle back to tie it up. Logan MacMillan would get his first goal of the season two minutes into the third period, and then, just over the half way mark, Chris Breen would send in a long distance shot that would fool Aero’s goaltender A. Khudobin and tie the game up. MacMillan and Breen’s first goals of the season couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. Overtime would be needed again, but it would solve nothing, as this game would also go into a shootout. This time Greg Nemisz would play hero for the Abbotsford Heat.
After leaving home on a high note, the Heat’s first stop would be in Providence, Rhode Island for a quick tangle with the Bruins. The Heat would make a minor slip-up in the first period. Then they laid the boots to the Bruins with four straight goals in the second period. Both teams would add one more in the third period, for a 5-2 final in favor of the Heat. Andrew Carroll, Bryan Cameron, Greg Nemisz, Quitin Laing and Matt Keith tallied goals for the Heat in the win over Providence.
The following night the Heat rolled into Adirnondack to play the Phantoms, and they would get to work early in the first period with a goal from Jon Rheault. The Heat would continue their romp on the Phantoms all night and eventually skate to a 4-2 win. The other goals for the Heat came from J.D. Watt, Bryan Cameron and Lance Bouma. The Heat would then return to Providence to play their third game in as many nights, and this time, fatigue would get to them. The Heat would trade goals with the Bruins all the way to overtime and then a shootout, but this time, the Heat would fall just short of keeping their winning streak alive. Cameron, Keith, Reich and Brodie had the goals for the Heat in their losing effort.
The Heat now has four days off, and then they will play a two game set with the Peoria Rivermen, before they return home for a mini series with the very popular Manitoba Moose. The Heat has been struggling with attendance as of late, but it’s very likely this series will sell out due to all the Vancouver Canucks prospects that will be in the line up for the Moose. The home series with the Manitoba Moose starts November 26th; ask for student deals at the box office just off campus at the AESC. At weeks end, the Heat has an 11-6-0-2 record and sit first in the North Division. For more insider info on the Heat follow me on twitter@justinorly.
