Heat Hot Sheet

Published on December 27, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


ABBOTSFORD BC - After a few days of rest and family, the Heat will return from their Christmas hiatus and open up a 10 game home stand which will see them face the Dallas Stars primary affiliate, the Texas Stars, and then the Manitoba Moose over the next eight days.

Abbotsford currently sits in third place in the AHL's North Division, with a record of 16-14-1-3 for 36 points after 34 games. The Heat is seven points back of division front runners, the Hamilton Bulldogs, but just two points back of the second place Toronto Marlies. However, the Heat has to keep one eye open behind them as well, as fourth place Grand Rapids is just one point back, fifth place Manitoba is just two points back and sixth and seventh place Lake Erie and Rochester sit with 33 points, just three points back of Abbotsford. Second thru seventh is separated by just five points, so taking your foot off the gas in this division can spell big trouble.

The Moose hold five games in hand on the entire division, a scheduling misnomer to say the least. Manitoba, like Abbotsford, will also play a glut of games at home between now and late January. Abbotsford will play ten straight games at the AESC, as they will face Texas, Manitoba, Adirondack, Toronto and Peoria in double headers between December 30 and January 19. Manitoba will play 12 of their next fourteen games at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, with their only encounter away from home the two games they will play here in Abbotsford on January 3 and 4. The Heat will start their ten game road trip by hitting Manitoba for their last two games of the mammoth Moose home stand on Jan 21 and 23. By the time the smoke clears on these home stands, the Heat will have played just one more game than the Moose. The Moose will then head out on a seven game road trip of their own at the same time the Heat go on the road for ten games.

UPCOMING GAMES:

The Heat will now practice Monday thru Thursday to prepare for their ten game home stand and resume game action on December 30th versus the Texas Stars. Texas will come into the AESC as the defending Western Conference Champions. The Heat and Stars played twice at the AESC last season, with the Heat sweeping the Stars by scores of 3-1 and 4-2. This year, the Stars are in tough, and in fourth place in the West Division, despite having an impressive record of 17-11-2-1.

MOOSE ON THE HORIZON:

The Manitoba Moose will renew their rivalry with the Abbotsford Heat on January 3rd and 4th. The Moose currently are riding a four game unbeaten streak and are now hot on the heels of the Heat, just two points back of Abbotsford in the North Division.

The Moose have had Abbotsford's number in recent meetingsManitoba has a 7-2-0-1 record lifetime against the HEAT, and a 4-1-0-1 record here in the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. The sold out building and pro-Moose crowd may have something to do with the success, as the Heat average nearly 6600 fans per Manitoba Moose visit. The last time that these two teams met in November, the teams split the two close, hard fought games, with Abbotsford winning the opener in a shootout, 2-1, before dropping the return game 3-1 with an empty net goal by top Canucks prospect Cody Hodgson sealing the deal.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2010


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