Saturday morning’s skate was full of drama and speculation. As per Cam Charron (@camcharron on the mighty Twitter), “We are at Defcon-Luongo. He is NOT on the ice at UBC.” Spotting a meme in the making, I quickly jumped on the interwebs — well, okay, on the Photoshop — and confirmed that Bobby Lu has indeed spawned a red alert:
I was at a Vancouver Canucks practice earlier this week, and got a few good shots I’d like to share.
But first, why not support some other teams around town this weekend? (Well, any weekend, really, but I’m posting this on January 11, 2013.)
Friday, January 11:
• The Abbotsford Heat host the Canucks farm team, the Chicago Wolves, tonight at the AESC. At last check, a few tickets were still available.
• The UBC Lady Thunderbirds host the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns at Thunderbird Arena (the very place the Canucks have been skating throughout the clusterbleep lockout.)
Saturday January 12:
• The Vancouver Giants host the Kelowna Rockets on Saturday, January 12 at the Pacific Coliseum.
• The Lady Thunderbirds go against the Pronghorns for the back half of their weekend double-header.
• The Heat host the Wolves again in Abbotsford, but that game is sold out.
Photo gallery after the jump.
Cory Schneider was exhausted yesterday morning. He came off the ice at UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena, leaned against the wall, and said so. “Wow,” he exhaled, “I’m exhausted.”
He didn’t look tired at all. He looked pretty fresh, actually, considering his commute to practice was upwards of 20 hours long. With a tentative agreement between the NHL and NHLPA still fresh news, Schneider had ended his brief stint in the Swiss Elite League, spent a calendar day in airports and commercial jets, hopped to the gym for a workout, then participated in a practice in full goalie gear with his Canucks teammates. Hell, I’m winded after writing that paragraph.
But as tired as he professed to be, Schneider looked good. And he gamely answered questions for reporters — some of those questions several times — for nearly 30 minutes before they allowed him to hit the showers. There were the obligatory queries about the Roberto Luongo saga. He was asked about the lockout, the potential end to it, and his thoughts on fan revolt. And he took questions on the Swiss League, European travel and Italian food.
One TV reporter asked him if he’ll soon be taking over the @strombone1 Twitter account.
Some of those answers, and a few more pictures after the jump.
Jason Garrison is happy to be skating with his new teammates. Or at least he looks like he is. The man wore a permagrin through Tuesday’s practice at Thunderbird Arena, even when getting slapped with a stick across the ribs during puck protection drills courtesy of Andrew Alberts.
Garrison, of course, signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks on Canada Day of 2012. (That’s July 1 for our non-Great White Northern readers.) The White Rock native had a career highs of 16 goals and 33 points in 77 games for the Florida Panthers last year, and added three more points in four games during a first-round playoff loss to the Stanley Cup finalist New Jersey Devils.
Two more pictures of Mr Garrison after the jump. Look for pictures of his teammates throughout the week.
The Abbotsford Heat earned a split in their back-to-back set against the Rochester Americans with a 3-1 victory on Saturday night. After the jump, grab a gander at some images from the contest. Or just read about it here.
Either way, give a guy a hand with some fundraising for the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
Continue reading Photo gallery – Abbotsford Heat vs Rochester Americans, part two
The Abbotsford Heat turned things around against the Rochester Americans, earning a split in their two-game set to open play in 2013 with a 3-1 win on Saturday night. The Americans won the first game of the weekend 5-2 on Friday.
Coquitlam native Ben Street had two goals and an assist in the win, while goaltender Danny Taylor stopped 17 of 18 shots. Here’s the game sheet.
With the win, the Heat remain tied for fourth in the AHL Western Conference. Abbotsford, the Houston Aeros and Texas Stars all have 41 points in 34 games. In the North Division, Abbotsford sits four points behind the Toronto Marlies, who themselves beat the Rockford Ice Hogs 5-2.
The Abbotsford Heat have a pair of home games against the Vancouver Canucks affiliate Chicago Wolves next Friday and Saturday, January 11 and 12 at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. The puck drops at 7 pm on both nights.
More after the jump.
Continue reading Abbotsford Heat & Rochester Americans do the splits
The Rochester Americans took a 5-2 decision in the first of back-to-back meetings on Friday. Below are a few pics from that contest. Check out our game summary if you’re into that sort of thing. And since you asked, here’s the box score too.
Related: pictures and a writeup of Saturay’s game, a 3-1 victory for the home side.
Featured with multiple pictures is Cody Hodgson, a blue chip prospect who started his pro career with the Vancouver Canucks organization but was traded to the Buffalo Sabres last year.
Also a focus is offensively minded defenseman TJ Brodie of the Abbotsford Heat, who is tied for third in team scoring with 19 points in 33 games.
Photo gallery after the jump.
Continue reading Photo Gallery – Abbotsford Heat vs Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans got a big, fat W in Abbotsford on Friday night, creeping to within two points of the Heat with a game in hand.
Check our photo gallery from the game here.
After a strong start to the season, the Abbotsford Heat have cooled considerably. A middling November and a woeful December have seen them slip from the top of the league standings to fourth place in the Western Conference. The Heat have just two wins in their last ten games, compared to Rochester’s six.
More after the jump.
Continue reading Hodgson & Co. earn two points in Abbotsford
Jersey: Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Only if ye auld acquaintance is wearing this abomination by the Adirondack Phantoms.
Years worn: 2012, New Year’s Eve game only.
Reaction: Long silences while people everywhere examined this twitpic of Zack FitzGerald’s shirt for signs of Photoshop tampering.
Most famous players to wear it: Probably Brayden Schenn, who was also the one to post the picture to twitter.
Why it’s great: The jerseys were a one-shot deal that were auctioned off after the game in support of a local transition house that assists homeless teenagers. Kudos for the community involvement, Phantoms organization. Grudging respect for the cufflinks in the shape of your logo. And maybe the pinstripes. Maybe.
Why it’s garbage: It’s ORANGE! You’re wearing an ORANGE TUXEDO! You have black right in your logo! You could have gone black-tie formal and done the same damn thing without looking like you pulled a design out of the Don Cherry reject pile. And while I’m fixing this design for you, if you’re going to shrink the logo anyways, put it on the breast of the jacket so it doesn’t look like a mouth. The first time I saw this thing I thought the guy with the bow-tie face was smiling at me and it’s still creeping me the hell out!
Haiku to describe Chris’s feelings whenever he sees this jersey:
We’ll take a cup of
Kindness yet, but not before
You throw that shirt out.
Other jerseys we can’t believe somebody approved:
New York Islanders third jersey (rumoured), 2012
Seattle Sounders third jersey, 2012
Vancouver Canucks alternate jersey, 1995-1997
EHC Wolfsburg Halloween jersey, 2012