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Training Camp Day in Review

September 22, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


Calgary, AB - Abbotsford Heat Head Coach Troy Ward and the first round of cuts from Calgary Flames Main Camp arrive in Abbotsford today ahead of Friday's first skate for the Heat.

After leaving the Fraser Valley over two weeks ago, the Heat coaching staff has a much better idea of what they are dealing with on the heels of five days at the Young Stars tournament in Penticton, an exhibition game against University of Calgary, and a week of Main Camp in Calgary that included the split-squad games versus the Canucks.

Cuts were made on Wednesday, including fifteen players heading to Abbotsford, and as Ward knows well, it wasn't an easy day for those released from camp. "Yesterday we talked about some life experiences. We talked about myself and Luke (Strand), and when we thought we had jobs and didn't get them and it was very disappointing," said Ward. "I relayed some stories to them. It's disappointing, I understand that. We've felt it in different ways, and now you have to come down and work hard to prove you want another chance."

Ryan Howse was one of the early cuts from Flames camp on Wednesday. The Prince George, BC product will now focus on Heat Training Camp after skating on Thursday morning. "Yesterday was a bit of a tough pill to swallow," said Howse. "You want to stick around as long as you can, but you've just got to take away a lot from this camp, learn from your mistakes, and bring it down to Abbotsford and try to make this team now."

After scoring 51 goals with the Chilliwack Bruins last season, Howse is hoping to call the Fraser Valley home again this season, this time with the Heat where he may be able to provide more offense for a club that struggled to score goals last season.

Don't blame Derek Smith if he isn't exactly wide-eyed at Flames Main Camp this week. This September marks the fifth NHL training camp for the 26-year-old defender. That said, Smith is impressed with the talent he sees on the blue-line in Calgary. "There are a lot of good players on the blue-line, they have some returning guys, and they've brought in some new guys. There are a lot of quality players back there and you pretty much just have to come in every day and battle hard to show you belong."

While Smith is hoping to crack the big club, he'd be a welcome addition to the Abbotsford Heat having amassed 54 points last season in the AHL with the Binghamton Sentators; he finished third in the league in points among defenders.



American Hockey League Stories from September 22, 2011


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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