Hockey
Heat Drop Pair
The Heat play host to the Chicago Wolves (a short month after Christmas) the farm team for the Canucks who have the night off following last evenings win over the Oilers.
With 5,216 fans on hand to take in the game, the fans were surprised to see several past Canucks players on hand taking in the action.
Some former players included Stan Smyl, Thomas Gradin and Canuck “brass” Lorne Henning.
On the officiating side, it was great to see Kiel Murchison working the game, as he is coming off the final Championship game at the World Juniors in Alberta.
He was partnered up on the lines with Chris Carlson also from the lower mainland.
With the Heat getting involved with the various minor hockey associations, the 50/50 was handled by the North Delta Minor Hockey Association. Total pot was $5,171, so the sellers did a great job!
The Heat are coming off a loss in the first of a two game series, where they fell short in the third playing in front of a crowd of over 5,300, which they hope to exceed tonight.
This game is the last one prior to the AHL Star break at the end of January in Atlantic City.
Clay Wilson and Krys Kolanos are headed to Atlantic City for the annual AHL All-Star game and it’s great to see the Heat represented. They will rejoin the team in Rochester.
The Heat currently has a record of 25-15-3-0 while Chicago’s record sits at 22-16-1-3.
Chicago are ranked 2nd in the Midwest while the Heat are 3rd in the West Division and 5th in the Western Conference.
Making our way to the game meant leaving early knowing that seating might be a priority in the media booth, but thanks to Delany he looked after us.
The Heat welcomed Roman Horak to the line-up who was sent down by the Flames, at least for this one game.
He was drafted by the Rangers in 2009 in the 5th round 127th overall and ended up with the Flames due to a trade June 1st/11. He played last season with the Chilliwack Bruins and recorded 78 points in 64 games.
He managed to grab 125 points in only 130 games with the Bruins, and then made the step to semi-pro and the Wolves.
The first ended with the Wolves up be a 3-0 score as well as having them double-up (14-7) on the Heat in the shot department.
It was after the 2nd goal that Taylor was replaced by Orito having only played 6:33 facing only 7 shots, while Orito played 53:27 on 23 shots on the contest.
The rest must have helped, but by the mid-part of the period it was still a 3 zip lead for the Wolves.
The Heat pressed, but it was the Wolves Bill Sweatt who put a great move on Orito to leave his jock hanging from the rafters, putting them up 4-0 at the 9 minute mark of the 32nd.
The Heat pressed, but failed to muster any offense and ended the period trailing in the shot department 26-15. At this stage in the game, it was possible for a change to the line combo as Head Coach Troy Ward tried various combos, but nothing seemed to work.
The best chance in the period was at 11:13 of the 3rd where Desbiens had an open top corner, but put it over the net.
The Wolves managed a 5th goal on a shot on the short-side up top off the stick of Schneider, which not only silenced the crowd, but had them moving toward the exits.
Heat Head Coach Troy G. Ward talked about the Heat’s struggles of late by saying,
“If we’re going to go through a stretch like this I’d rather have it now.” He continued “Every team goes through this at the AHL level. We’ve got to stay together as a group and face this adversity.”
The Heat remain six points out of top spot in the Western Conference, but have played one more game than the Oklahoma City Barons who are setting the pace in the AHL’s West Division and Western Conference.
Sort of reminds them of the song by Willie Nelson made famous in 1980 for the sound track to the movie Honeysuckle Rose “On The Road
Again”, but regardless – they are always glad to be back home!