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Milwaukee Admirals Dock In Abbotsford For Weekend Set

October 27, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


ABBOTSFORD BC - The Abbotsford Heat currently sit atop the North Division thru ten games this season with a record of 5-4-0-1. After splitting a pair of games with the Rochester Americans over the past two days, (the Heat won 4-3 in Overtime on Monday, while the Americans prevailed on Tuesday 2-1), the Heat will face an Admirals team that has won the first two games between these two clubs early in the season. The Admirals won 3-1 this past Saturday, while Milwaukee prevailed 6-2 on October 9th.

The Heat has had a great start from a number of their rookies so far this season, plus some contributions from their veterans:

Matt Keith - Aldergrove's Matt Keith currently leads the Heat on the season with five goals so far. At 27, Keith is now the elder statesman on the club. Keith loves playing near his hometown and enjoys family and friends now being able to drive to games to see him play. This past Tuesday, Keith's brother who teaches in Japan, brought over his students on an exchange program to Abbotsford and took in a Heat game. Matt Keith scored the lone goal in a 2-1 Heat loss to the Americans.

Gaelan Patterson - Patterson scored the first two AHL goals of his career to help lead the Heat to a 4-3 OT win over Rochester on Monday night. Patterson also posted three assists in the Heat's 4-1 win over the Rockford Ice Hogs on Friday in Illinois. For Patterson, playing with a team full of players his age has been a huge benefit. "Playing with this team, we can all pick up from the lessons we are learning about making the jump to pro together. No one is afraid to ask a question as we are all learning to win together."

The Admirals have a few players with Lower Mainland or Abbotsford ties coming to town:

Mark Santorelli - Santorelli is now in his second full season with the Admirals after playing with the Chilliwack Bruins of the WHL and winning the WHL scoring race back in 2008. This season, Santorelli is playing out of the shadow of his brother, Mark, who was traded to Florida in the off-season. Santorelli scored the game winning goal last Saturday in a 3-1 win over Abbotsford.

Jon Blum - Former Vancouver Giants Captain is now in his second full season in the AHL, and is one of the backline stalwarts for the Admirals this season. The Rancho Santa Margarita, California product is good friends with Abbotsford Heat forward Mitch Wahl, who is from nearby Seal Beach, CA. These California kids are riding the wave in the AHL these days and share a unique bond of growing up in California and sharing a passion of playing in the NHL.

Brett Palin - After a number of seasons in the Flames organization and spending last year in Abbotsford with the captaincy, and a concussion, Brett Palin chose to move on to the Nashville Predators organization and is now the Captain of the Admirals. Last Saturday, Palin posted two assists as the Admirals beat the Heat 3-1.

Jamie Lundmark - This highly skilled player also played in Abbotsford last season, but was claimed off waivers from Calgary by the Toronto Maple Leafs, finishing out his season in the Big Smoke. In the off season, Lundmark signed with Nashville to see if he could make their big club, but a preseason injury sent him back and he is now looking to get back into form with a trip to Milwaukee. If his first two games are any indication, he is on his way. Lundmark has scored once in each of his first games, including the opening goal in the Admirals 3-1 win over Abbotsford on Saturday night.

Add goalie Mark Dekanich (North Vancouver) to the equation and there a ton of local stories this weekend as the Heat take on the Milwaukee Admirals at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.

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