By Mike Cadarette (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: October 10, 2012
With the unbroken hum of the Zamboni the only interruption between the action of the drills, prospective Abbotsford Heat players continued to pursue the opportunity that was clearly presented to them: work hard enough and you’ll earn a roster spot; don’t and you’ll find yourself on Calgary Flames’ ECHL affiliate Utah Grizzlies or worse, released.
Just in case Heat head coach Troy Ward’s taxing two-one-two forechecking schemes and one-on-one keep-away drills in the corners weren’t enough of a grind for the players, the watchful eyes of Calgary Flames management and coaching staff added to the on-ice atmosphere.
In a training camp branded with parity, a few players rose above the rest. Max Reinhart, son of former Vancouver Canucks defencemen Paul Reinhart and brother to New York Islanders 2012 fourth overall draft pick Griffin Reinhart, has shown his NHL bosses that he has the stick skills to compete with the best in AHL, if not the NHL once the lockout ends. In a game of one-on-one keep away on Thursday morning, Reinhart was able to effortlessly fend off his opponent as he dangled within the faceoff circle – surely a by-product of growing up playing against his dad and brother, both defencemen.
Sven Baertschi, Flames’ 2011 first-round draft pick, showed why he was expected to make his full-time NHL debut this fall. The 20-year-old winger will be entering his first pro season after a 2011/12 season that saw Baertschi light up the WHL at a rare two points-per-game pace (94 points in 47 games). Throughout training camp, Baertschi was paired alongside free agent pick up centre Ben Street, a top 30 point-getter in the AHL last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Other noteworthy forwards included last season’s Heat leading scorer Krys Kolanos, playmaking centre Ben Walter, captain Quintin Laing, and Heat rookie leading scorer Dustin Sylvester.
With 25 forwards at camp and only 13 roster spots available, the forward position proved to be a fierce battle.
The Heat are set to have a new look on the blueline this winter. Of the 15 defencemen at Heat camp, only five players have played for the Heat in the past; of those, only three were full-time players: six-foot-seven Chris Breen, AHL veteran Joe Piskula and TJ Brodie who spent 54 games with the Calgary Flames last season.
Among the invitees at camp was former Vancouver Canucks defencemen Steve McCarthy. McCarthy, who played for Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley last season with the ZSC Lions of the Swiss National League, signed a standard players contract (SPC) with the Abbotsford Heat for the upcoming season.
Brady Lamb, a hard-hitting two-way defencemen, has shown an all-round ability to be effective at both ends of the rink, while still looking for the big hit if the opportunity arises. Lamb, who played four seasons at the University of Minnesota Deluth, signed with the Calgary Flames on March 29, 2012. This will be his first pro season.
Another intriguing competition that arose at Heat training camp was the battle for the crease. Five goaltenders were invited to camp, but only two could be on the opening night roster. Some of the goaltenders that were at Heat camp were long-time Heat goalie Leland Irving, AHL journeyman Danny Taylor, and 2010/11 Calder Cup winner Barry Brust.
Brust was particularly impressive, exhibiting flashy saves and Martin Brodeur-like stick handling skills. The Kelowna native won the Calder Cup with the Binghamton Senators appearing in 52 games and maintaining a 2.53 GAA and .925 save percentage.
Intrasquad match proves spirited as hopefuls vie for final spots
On Friday, October 5, the Heat held a Red vs. White intrasquad game open to the public. The Red vs. White game was their only preseason game due to being 2548 km from the next nearest AHL team. The 45 players were broken into two squads for the Friday night tilt, which saw Team White hold off Team Red in a 3-2 win. Friday night’s game was particularly important because it was the last chance for the players to make an impression with cuts expected to come the next day.
Only seconds into the start of the game, rookie Brady Lamb set the tone for the rest of the game levelling an unsuspecting opposing Team Red player.
With several hundred fans in attendance, Dustin Sylvester scored the opening goal, catching goaltender Leland Irving off guard. Sylvester, starting the game alongside Heat All-Star Krys Kolanos and rookie Max Reinhart, made a strong case to be on the opening day roster demonstrating why the diminutive five-foot-seven winger was able to set a new Heat record in rookie points last season with 34 points. Sylvester finished the game with a goal and an assist.
Shortly after the start of the second period, Max Reinhart took a Chris Breen slap shot off his ankle. Reinhart struggled to get to the bench and did not return to the game.
Sophomore Roman Horak, who played 61 games with the Calgary Flames last season, scored the game-tying goal on an accurate pass from rugged grinder Tyler Ruegsegger.
Halfway through the second period, Heat assistant coaches Luke Strand and Cail MacLean (acting as head coaches with bench boss Troy Ward observing the game in isolation from the stands), substituted goaltenders Barry Brust and Leland Irving for training camp invitee Alex Evin and 2011/12 Heat backup Danny Taylor.
After two quick goals, one from Team White’s Krys Kolanos and one from Team Red’s rookie power forward Michael Ferland, the score was tied 2-2 heading into the third period.
Midway into the third period, stay-at-home defencemen Jamie Fritsch scored the game winning power play goal on a slap shot from the blueline, beating Danny Taylor high stick side.
While flashy left-winger Sven Baertschi was not able to gift himself a goal on his birthday to help his team, he showed an exceptional ability to make passes and dangle between sticks and legs even in the tightest of spots on the ice.
Former U.S. Military officer and training camp invitee Zach McKelvie exhibited a different type of ability – the ability to get under the skin of opposing players. In the third period, McKelvie urged Heat forward Gaelan Patterson to engage in a fight with a series of punches to the face. McKelvie has shown his peskiness and aggressive style since the first day of training camp.
On late Saturday afternoon, the Heat roster was significantly trimmed down after cuts were made to the 45 player training camp roster. Thirty-one players now remain after the cuts.
Among those sent down to the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies is former Chilliwack Bruin Ryan Howse. Howse, who went on a rigorous month-long conditioning/training leave last season, was not able to secure a spot on the club after finding himself near the bottom of the list in conditioning results.
After a good showing at camp, playmaking centre Mitch Wahl was not able to find a spot on the Heat roster. He, too, has been assigned to the Utah Grizzlies. Don’t be surprised to see Mitch Wahl re-assigned to Abbotsford if the Heat get into injury trouble.
Some notable players that have been retained by the club include Tyler Ruegsegger. Ruegsegger came into camp as an invitee, but had shown excellent forechecking and offensive ability throughout camp. On Friday night’s intrasquad game, Ruegsegger finished with two assists and nearly had a goal after ringing the puck off the goal post.
Interestingly, the Heat have elected to retain three goaltenders, at least for the meantime. Leland Irving, Danny Taylor and Barry Brust remain with the club despite head coach Troy Ward only wanting to keep two goalies.
More cuts are expected to come before the season opener.
The Abbotsford Heat will open their 2012/13 season on October 12 at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre against the Peoria Rivermen (AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues).
