Abbotsford Heat Weekly

January 18, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


FIVE HOT FACTS ABOUT THE ABBOTSFORD HEAT WEEK OF JANUARY 18-24, 2010

1) The Abbotsford HEAT is now at the AHL ALL STAR BREAK. The AHL is holding their annual all star game and festivities in Portland, Maine, in a game that will feature a format of Planet Canada vs. Planet USA which is a team comprised of AHL All Stars not from Canada.

2) Jason Jaffray from the Abbotsford HEAT will represent TEAM CANADA. Jaffray leads the HEAT in nearly every offensive category. Jaffray leads the HEAT in goals (16), assists (19), points (35), plus/minus (+15), power play goals (5), shorthanded goals (4), game winning goals (3) and insurance goals (4). Jaffray will make his 2nd AHL All Star appearance.

3) The AHL is now on break until this coming Friday, when there are 13 games on the schedule. The AHL All Star break is the unofficial halfway point of the season, as all but one AHL Team, the Binghamton Senators, have played at least 40 games this season. At the All Star Break, the AHL Division leaders are: Manchester (Atlantic), Hershey (East), Milwaukee (West) and Hamilton (North). Hershey has the largest division lead, with a 16 point bulge over Albany, while Milwaukee has just a one point lead over Rockford. The Abbotsford HEAT at the ALL STAR break sit in fourth place in the North Division, three points back of the Manitoba Moose for third, and four points ahead of the Lake Erie Monsters, who are in fifth. The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs. If the playoffs were to begin today, the HEAT would face the Montreal Canadiens affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs.

4) The Heat is in the midst of an eight game home stand, in which they are currently 3-2-1 over their first six games. The Heat were 1-2-1 in this week's action, dropping an overtime game, 4-3 to the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday, a 3-0 loss on Wednesday, and a 3-2 setback at the hands of the Lake Erie Monsters on Friday. The Heat saved the best for last, as they staged an epic comeback, falling behind to Lake Erie 3-0 midway thru period one, before storming back for six unanswered goals and a 6-3 victory. The Heat scored four times in the final period to erase the deficit and outshot the Monsters 19-2 in the process.

5) Abbotsford will now finish off their longest home stand of the season, with a pair of games this Friday and Saturday versus the affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, the Houston Aeros. The Aeros are coached by former NHL Head Coach Kevin Constantine. Constantine has coached the Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils. His most recent coaching gig before the Aeros was with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. Constantine led the expansion Tips all the way to the WHL FINAL in their first year of existence. Local flavour is provided by Colton Gillies, who is a native of White Rock. Gillies was a 2007 NHL first round draft pick of the WILD, 17th overall, and played his junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL. You can catch all the Abbotsford Heat action, home and away, on Country 107.1 FM. Dave Sheldon and Craig MacEwen will have the call of the HEAT and AEROS, this Friday and Saturday from the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. Game time on Friday evening will be at 7:30 pm, while Saturday's game will start at 4 pm. Tickets can be purchased for all Abbotsford HEAT home games by calling 1-877-452-HEAT.



American Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2010


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