By Sean Evans (The Cascade) – Email
Date Posted: October 13, 2011
Print Edition: October 12, 2011
The Abbotsford Heat opened up the season on the road last weekend, facing the Lake Erie Monsters on both Friday and Saturday night. The Heat flew back to Abbotsford on Sunday having won both games, allowing only a single goal. Special teams proved to be the difference maker, as all three of the Heat’s goals over the weekend came on the power play.
On Friday night both Dustin Sylvester and Greg Nemisz netted goals on the power play. However, the Heat were unable to score on four consecutive power plays, as they out shot the monsters 13-0 during the second period. The penalty kill managed to fend off the Monsters successfully for three power plays. It was a nail bitter to the finish, as the game came down the final buzzer. The Heat came down on the right side of a narrow margin of victory though, winning 2-1. Speaking after the game, Coach Troy Ward was satisfied with his teams play on Friday and noted that the “system play got better as the game wore on.”
On Saturday night, Leland Irving stood tall, earning his first shutout of the season for the Heat, as they won with one goal. The lone goal of the night came on the power play from Paul Byron, who accepted a beautiful centering pass from Clay Wilson and buried it at 3:31 in the first. The penalty kill stood tall once again as they went six for six, managing to kill off a 48 second five-on-three in the middle frame.
The Heat out shot the Monsters 60 to 42 over the course of both games, but failed to score five-on-five all weekend. While the season is young, memories of the brutal lack of offense last year still loom. That said, this is a new season, as the cliché goes, and there is reason for optimism, as the Heat did pick up some offensive players during the summer. Newly acquired Ben Walter, son of Heat CEO and President, Ryan Walter, is expected to produce offensively. Last year he potted 23 goals and 47 assists with Lake Erie, and has been putting up those sort of numbers consistently for the past five seasons.
The Heat hope to continue their winning ways for the first time on home ice this season on Friday night versus the Rockford IceHogs, affiliate to the Chicago Blackhawks. The home opener will feature the fan favorite “Loonie Toonie Dog ‘n Brew” deal. As well, the first 5000 fans will receive a free hat.
