Heat Heavy Roster Readies For Tourney

Published on September 7, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


ABBOTSFORD BC - Sixteen players who skated for the Abbotsford Heat will put their talents on display for the Calgary Flames as they ready for the Young Stars Tournament being held from September 13-16 in Penticton BC.

Young stars from the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks will participate in this Okanagan tourney. The Flames prospects will be coached by the Abbotsford Heat coaching staff as Jim Playfair, Troy Ward and Steve O'Rourke will put the players thru their paces.

The coaching staff will see a lot of familiar faces, as sixteen players who laced up the blades for the Abbotsford Heat at one point of the season last year will take part.

In goal, Matt Keetley and Leland Irving will see some time in the tourney. Keetley led the Heat last season with a goal against average of 2.59 and a .912 save percentage in 23 games played while Irving played in a team high 35 games and posted a 2.76 GAA with a .905 save percentage.

On defence, Keith Seabrook, John Negrin, Josh Meyers and Chris Breen will all see time patrolling the blue line. Seabrook led all Heat defenders with 78 games played in his rookie campaign, while also leading the d-corps in goals (10) and points (28). Meyers played 54 games for the Heat last season and was able to pop 18 points (3G-15A). John Negrin had a solid start to his rookie season in the AHL derailed by injury. In 45 games, Negrin scored five times and assisted on ten others. Chris Breen joined the Heat late in the 09-10 season and participated in the last game of the season versus the Toronto Marlies. Chris also spent the post season with the Heat and despite not getting in to the lineup, was an active part of all practices and activities in the post season.

Ten Heat forwards will make the trip to Penticton. Among them Heat rookie of the year Mikael Backlund, playoff goal scoring leader Jon Rheault, young guns Lance Bouma, Gaelan Patterson, Mitch Wahl and Carter Bancks, as well as forwards John Armstrong, Ryley Grantham, Hugo Carpentier and Logan MacMillan.

The Flames schedule will open with a game against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, September 13th, game time is 4 pm. The Flames will then battle the Oilers the following evening at 7:30 PM and finish up on Thursday with a noon time tilt versus the Vancouver Canucks. All games will take place at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton BC.

You can catch tourney updates on the Heat website and also listen for Dave Sheldon on Country 107.1 FM with daily features and updates.

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American Hockey League Stories from September 7, 2010


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