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Monster Sighting In Abbotsford This Weekend

January 14, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


ABBOTSFORD BC - The Abbotsford Heat kick off the second half of their eight game home stand with a pair of games versus their North Division foes, the Lake Erie Monsters, on Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.

The HEAT (20-17-3-3) is currently in fourth place in the North, four points ahead of the Monsters (19-19-0-4). After a sweep over the Texas Stars last weekend, the Heat suffered an overtime defeat and a regulation defeat to currently sit at 2-1-0-1 halfway thru their longest home stand of the season.

The Monsters, who for most of the first half of the season were mired in the cellar of the North Division, have picked up their play dramatically. Since December 13th, the Monsters are 11-4 and have moved up in the standings past Toronto and Grand Rapids, with the thoughts of a playoff spot clearly on their collective consciousness. Of those eleven wins in their last 15, the Monsters have taken out Division leaders, the Hamilton Bulldogs, four times. Keep in mind that Hamilton has only suffered ten losses all season.

For the Heat, it starts right now to make your move in the standings. With the much anticipated Moose series now behind them, it is time to focus on the Monsters and keeping them in the rear view mirror. Abbotsford is going in the right direction, with a 5-3-1-1 record in their past ten, and their next two opponents, Lake Erie for a pair, followed by Houston for a pair of game, have yet to beat the Heat in their own buildings, let alone on the road. The Heat are now at the mid way point in their home schedule and have a 9-7-1-3 record at the AESC. The.550 winning percentage thru 20 games at home has the Heat ranked 6th of the seven North Division teams in home ice winning percentage. With 20 of their last 37 at home, this record will have to increase dramatically if the Heat wants to qualify for the playoffs or win the North Division.

Lake Erie is 10-7-0-3 on the road as they are now at the midpoint of their road schedule. Since the start of this season, the Monsters have now made 12 roster moves on their club in an effort to find the winning formula. Leading that charge is 30 year old Darren Haydar. Haydar leads his team with 16 goals and 35 points. On a local angle, Burnaby's Brock Bradford has chipped in with eight goals and 14 points, forward and former Chilliwack Bruins captain Josh Aspenlind from Langley BC has picked up two assists in 26 games this year, while defender Travis Gawryletz, from Trail BC, rounds out the BC contingent. Gawryletz, like Bradford, is in his first season in the AHL, has 3 assists and is a +6 in 19 games played this season.

These two clubs met back in Cleveland on November 1st, with the Heat prevailing 2-1. Colin Stuart and Mikael Backlund scored for the Heat while Leland Irving turned aside 26 of 27 shots faced on the evening.

You can get your tickets to this game and any HEAT home game by calling 1-877-452-HEAT.

You can also listen to every HEAT broadcast home and away on COUNTRY 107.1 FM. The Honda Way pregame show will kick of the clash between the Monsters and HEAT at 7 pm. Dave Sheldon and Craig MacEwen will call the action from the AESC beginning with the opening faceoff, brought to you by WestJet, at 7:30 pm.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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