Abbotsford Heat

The Abbotsford Heat announced today their opening night roster for the 2013-14 American Hockey League (AHL) season. The Heat open their season tomorrow in Cleveland against the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche). Puck drop is set for 4:30 pm PST with the game broadcast live on 101.7 CIVL FM and teamradio.ca.

Head Coach Troy G. Ward returns for a third season behind the Heat bench and will have a new face beside him in Robbie Ftorek. Ftorek is the new Assistant Coach, tremendous hockey experience with 334 career NHL games played and as a three time NHL Head Coach. Goaltending Coach Jordan Sigalet returns for his third season with the club.

The Heat have 14 players on the opening night roster who played at least one game for the Heat last season. This year’s team will also be very young, with only 7 of 27 players on the roster are over 25 years of age.

Forwards

4 Zach McKelvie 11 Corban Knight 12 Paul Byron 13 Turner Elson 15 Greg Nemisz 17 Josh Jooris 20 Roman Horak 22 Blair Jones 24 David Eddy 25 Max Reinhart 26 Markus Granlund 28 Ben Hanowski 34 Carter Bancks 36 Michael Ferland 46 Brett Lyon 48 Brett Olson 49 Steve Begin

Defence

2 Braden Lamb 5 Tyler Wotherspoon 7 John Ramage 14 Mark Cundari 16 Dean Arsene 18 Drew MacKenzie 23 Chad Billins 32 Patrick Sieloff

Goalies

To Alaska Aces (ECHL): Andy Taranto (F) Jordan Kremyr (F) Peter Sivak (F) James Martin (D) Zach Davies (D) Kane Lafranchise (D) Laurent Brossoit (G)

To Bakersfield Condors (ECHL): Art Bidlevskii (D)

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have acquired centre Joe Colborne from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Calgary’s fourth round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Colborne, a native of Calgary, Alberta, was originally drafted in the first round (16th overall) in the 2008 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins. Last season Colborne scored 14 goals and added 28 assists for 42 points in 65 games for the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League in addition to playing five games with the Maple Leafs.

To Abbotsford Heat (AHL):

Carter Bancks – LW Laurent Brossoit – G Paul Byron - C Mark Cundari - D David Eddy - RW Turner Elson - LW Ben Hanowski - LW Brady Lamb – D James Martin - D Zach McKelvie – D Greg Nemisz - RW Brett Olson – C Joni Ortio - G

Returning to their respective Junior Teams:

Ryan Culkin – D (Quebec/WHL) Coda Gordon – RW (Swift Current/WHL) Morgan Klimchuk – LW (Regina/WHL) Brett Kulak – D (Vancouver/WHL) Emile Poirier – RW (Gatineau/QMJHL) Eric Roy – D (Brandon/WHL)

Download PDF Schedule ~ http://ow.ly/ob1Bb

The Heat will open the season on the road October 4th and 5th in Cleveland against the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL Affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche). The 2013-14 home opening weekend will be October 11th and 12th at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre (AESC) against the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL Affiliate of the Nashville Predators).

The Abbotsford Heat announced today an affiliation agreement with the Alaska Aces of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). Alaska will now serve as the ECHL affiliate of the Abbotsford Heat (AHL) and the Calgary Flames (NHL).

The Abbotsford Heat announced today their six guaranteed home dates for the 2013-14 season. The 2013 Heat Home Opener will be held on Friday October 11th at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre (AESC). The complete list of guaranteed dates is as follows:

• Friday October 11th • Saturday October 12th • Friday December 6th • Saturday December 7th • Wednesday December 11th • Thursday December 12th

Friday December 6th will feature the annual Heat Teddy Bear Toss game, where fans can donate their gently used teddy bears to needy youth through the Abbotsford Christmas Bureau.