Heat Go Pink for Hot Pink 1 against Bako Tonight at 7:30 p.m.
November 6, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Stockton Heat News Release
TONIGHT
The Battle of Alberta travels south to California as the Stockton Heat look to break a three-game winless streak, returning home to Stockton to face their biggest rival in the Edmonton Oilers affiliate - the Bakersfield Condors.
The Heat and the Condors continue their rivalry from the past decade of ECHL hockey with both teams making the move up to the AHL over the summer.
UNDERSTAND THE RIVALRY BY KNOWING THE HISTORY
Over the course of 10 seasons in the ECHL, the Stockton Thunder faced the Bakersfield Condors 105 times going 50-40-15 and finishing with a 0.548 win percentage against the teams' biggest rival.
Those 105 games were the most against any other team. The Condors were also in town for the last Thunder game in history and now the new iteration of the Condors begins a new rivalry with the new team in Stockton tonight.
But this rivalry has more than just one angle.
It's also a big rivalry due to who the team's parent clubs are. The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers play in what's known as "The Battle of Alberta" with the teams separated by a 3 hour drive up and down the Queen Elizabeth II Highway (or QE2).
The NHL clubs have played twice this season, once on October 17 in Calgary and again on October 31 in Edmonton with the away teams winning both games. Most recently, Calgary utilized a Michael Frolik hat trick (with his last one coming with 8.7 seconds to go in the game) to come away with a victory over their biggest rival. The Heat hope a similar magic is in the air for tonight.
WHO TO WATCH
Kenny Agostino is the leader of the Stockton Heat when it comes to points, but after a hot start has gone pointless in his last three games.
He had four helpers after the first three games, leading the team in both assists and points at the time - two titles he still hold three games later with the same 4 assists.
Agostino is one of the players that the power play runs through when his unit is on the ice and that means he always has chances to make a significant impact on the game.
He leads the team in shots with 20 and is due for a big game. There isn't a better way to get back in their scoring ways than in a game against Bakersfield, so watch for Agostino to play a large role in tonight's tilt.
HOT PINK 1 RESONATES WITH PLAYERS
There is no doubt that this weekend's games are about more than just hockey, but it's not just the fans that will be overtaken by the spectacle that is Hot Pink 1. The players understand that these games hold special meaning for their fans, friends and family.
Many of the players have been affected personally by cancer in some way and want to help the cause in any way possible, even if that means simply putting on a good show to make thousands at Stockton Arena cheer in spite of the gravity of the evening.
The ice is painted pink and ready for each team to take to it for the first ever AHL edition of Hot Pink 1 at Stockton Arena.
This marks the 10th time in Stockton hockey history that the team will play a series of games on pink ice while raising money for St. Joseph's Foundation - Breast Health Services. In 9 previous seasons, $247,085 has been donated ($27,454 avg. per season).
ADIRONDACK VS. OKLAHOMA CITY LAST SEASON
The Adirondack Flames played the OKC Barons four times last season finishing with a 2-0-2 record against the team losing two games in OT.
Of players still on the team, defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon led the charge offensively with 5 assists against the Barons with Kenny Agostino, Emile Poirier and Kenney Morrison picking up three points against OKC.
Bako goalie Laurent Brossoit was in net for every game for the Barons last season vs. ADK.
AFFILIATE CORNER
It was a close game last night at the Saddledome between the Flames and Philadelphia Flyers. Forward Josh Jooris scored in the first after exiting the penalty box. While his breakaway was stopped by Michael Neuvirth, he eventually put home a rebound to put the Flames on top. In the second though in the dying moment of the period, Philadelphia tied the game up. However the goal didn't deflate the Flames and they came out focused in the third but just couldn't top Neuvirth.
In the 3-on-3 overtime, Johnny Gaudreau got the puck in his own zone after a great Karri Ramo save on Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds. Johnny Hockey streaked up the right wing boards and shot one at Neuvirth that the goalie stopped, however the driving centerman, Mikael Backlund, found himself in perfect position after the puck bounced off of his body and past the goalie to give the Flames the 2-1 win over the Flyers. The Flames play the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow as the Oilers play the Pens tonight.
Magic continues in the ECHL for the Adirondack Thunder who have started a league best 7-0 and just saw forward Rob Bordson named the Player of the Month after scoring 11 points (6GP 6-5-11). The team visits Cincinnati tonight to take on the Cyclones before traveling back up closer to home to face the Toledo Walleye tomorrow night.
INTERESTING FACT
There are only three combined players that could suit up for tonight's contest that played with the old regimes of either of these teams.
For the Heat, only Kent Simpson will be familiar from last year's Stockton - Bakersfield rivalry. Joshua Winquist and Nick Pageau are the only two for Bakersfield.
Tonight begins what promises to be just as heated of a rivalry.
Friday, November 6, 2015
Arena: Stockton Arena
Date: November 6, 2015
Time: 7:30 p.m. PST (Doors at 6:30 p.m.)
Broadcast: AHL Live, Spreaker & iHeartRadio beginning at 7:15 p.m. PST
Leading Scorer: STOCKTON: LW Kenny Agostino (6GP, 0-4-4)
BAKERSFIELD: D Brad Hunt (8GP, 2-7-9)
For the live, in-game tweets, follow @AHLHeatPR. Stay tuned at the end of the game for the Chase Chevrolet Big Moment of the Game with your chance to win an autographed Austin Carroll puck.
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