Hopes high for Flames’ trade acquisition
Ryan Walter stopped in town to make a quick sales pitch before next week’s American Hockey League contest between the Abbotsford Heat and Oklahoma City Barons.
But, you can be sure, he does not need to sell this game to any of his troops.
“If you’re an Abbotsford Heat player and you have a chance to play in the Calgary Flames’ building,” the Heat president said Thursday, “in front of executives and staff members, you’d think you’ll bring your best game.
“So, yeah, lots of reasons to come and see.”
Officially, Feb. 9 will be game No. 35 in the Baby Flames’ 2011-12 AHL regular season.
But, as Walter says, the clash serves many other purposes to the team and to the city of Calgary — and are the main reasons why they’ve staged another AHL game at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
“We think it’s a real valuable game for Flames fans to be able to see what’s on the farm, what’s in the American Hockey League, and what’s their future,” he said. “Really, many of these kids will be the future of the Calgary Flames.” Some of them already are. Forward Krys Kolanos is the latest example of a player making the jump, while forward Lance Bouma and defenceman T.J. Brodie have split time between Calgary and Abbotsford.
Injuries to their parent club have also given National Hockey League playing minutes to forwards Paul Byron, Greg Nemisz, Roman Horak, defencemen Joe Piskula and Clay Wilson, and goalie Leland Irving.
“There’s a statistic the AHL likes to use,” Walter said.
Last season, 87 per cent of Nhlers played at least a game in the AHL.
“We have a funny business. We want every player on our team to make the NHL. When a player like Krys Kolanos comes to Abbotsford and then gets a shot to play for the Calgary Flames, you’re obviously very excited. “But that’s why we’re there.” A Calgary Hitmen-sized crowd of almost 8,500 showed up for last year’s game between the Flames and Edmonton Oilers farmhands that preceded the events of the NHL’S Heritage Classic weekend.
Heading into Thursday’s action, Oklahoma was leading the Western Conference with a 29-11-2-3 record while Abbotsford was fifth (25-163-0). So next Thursday’s clash figures to have some bearing on the standings.
“They have snuck about nine or 10 points ahead of us now, but we’ve been very competitive,” Walter said. “It gives Calgary a view of the future. If you’re a Calgary Flames fan, you should want to get to know some of these stars.
“I would really encourage people to make it the Baby Battle of Alberta. I think it’s going to be a great game.”