CHRIS BREEN PAGE 4
TROY WARD PAGE 7
NHL DEBUTS PAGE 8
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FEBRUARY 2012
CLAY WILSON
carries the load PAGE 3
Amy Williams Photography
N A M E D N O R T H A M E R I C A ’ S B E S T S U B U R B A N N E W S PA P E R S E C T I O N 2 0 1 0
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Veteran Wilson’s game still evolving Amy Williams Photography
Blueliner’s point production yields all-star nod, but his defensive play has also been solid DanKINVIG ABBOTSFORD NEWS
Last summer, when Abbotsford Heat head coach Troy Ward was helping the Calgary Flames design their AHL affiliate’s roster in the run-up to the 2011-12 season, he envisioned Clay Wilson as part of a deep arsenal of offensive-minded blueliners. But the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry, and four months into the campaign, Wilson was shouldering a larger share of the puck-moving load than the brass might have anticipated. First, Derek Smith – a big-time point producer in the AHL who won a Calder Cup with the Bing-
hamton Senators last spring – cracked the Flames’ roster out of training camp. (He’s currently sidelined with a high ankle sprain). T.J. Brodie, the Heat’s super sophomore, earned an NHL recall of his own on Nov. 9. The mobile blueliner has played so well, it’s unlikely he’ll be back in Abbotsford any time soon. Then on Jan. 6, Brendan Mikkelson, who had excelled as a two-way blueliner with the Heat, was traded by the Flames to the Tampa Bay Lightning. “With all the young forwards we have, we needed good defencemen to get the puck
out of your end and help them develop,” said Ward, explaining the rationale for amassing all those mobile blueliners in the off-season. “It hasn’t worked out that way – slowly but surely, we lost what we thought we might have on the back end.” Ward and the Heat landed some reinforcements last Friday, when the Flames traded Brendan Morrison to the Chicago Blackhawks organization for Brian Connelly. He’s a two-time AHL all-star who is currently second in points among AHL defencemen. But the Heat can thank their
lucky stars Wilson was around to carry the load previously – though they had to weather his absence for two weeks in early January, due to a call-up by the Flames. Wilson, a 28-year-old native of Sturgeon Lake, Minn., was known as an offensive dynamo when he signed as a free agent with the Flames/Heat last summer. He was second in scoring among AHL defencemen two seasons ago with the Rochester Americans (60 points in 75 games), and he’s currently tied for 16th in AHL blueliner scoring with 23 points in 38 games. He represented Abbotsford at the
AHL All-Star Classic in Atlantic City last weekend, his second straight all-star nod. “It means a lot,” Wilson said, reflecting on the all-star selection. “They had a lot of great players to choose from, so it feels good.” As much as Wilson’s personal brand has been built on point production, Ward has been as pleased with the veteran’s attention to detail in the defensive zone. It’s part of the reason that after Heat captain Quintin Laing went down with a concussion last week, Wilson was picked to wear the ‘C’ in the interim. Continued on page 10
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Blueliner Breen bucks sophomore slump DanKINVIG
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Coming off a revelatory 2010-11 campaign with the Abbotsford Heat, Chris Breen had high hopes heading into this season. But the towering 6’7” defenceman – whose potential to play in the NHL one day had been strongly touted by former Heat head coach Jim Playfair – stumbled out of the gates. Breen struggled at the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton in September, compounding matters by pulling his groin midway through the prospect showcase event. Then he fought the puck at Calgary Flames training camp, and was reassigned to the Heat without tasting so much as a single exhibition game. In Abbotsford, he continued to flounder – he was scratched from the lineup twice in the first month of the regular season. Breen has been looking more like himself lately, though. He’s been moving the puck with more confidence, and has reasserted his role as a key cog on the Heat’s terrific penalty-killing unit.
Looking back on his wobbly start, Breen can speak eloquently about what was going wrong, but he can’t quite put his finger on why. “It was weird,” he mused. “I don’t know why it happened, but it wasn’t the start I was looking for. “I think it was maybe how things went in Penticton, and it just snowballed. Mentally, it was weighing on me, and after training camp I guess I got a little down on myself. But I just needed a little confidence to turn it around.” Breen, who signed as a free agent with the Flames organization in 2010 after wrapping up his junior career with the Ontario Hockey League’s Peterborough Petes, came from out of nowhere to rocket up the Heat’s defensive depth chart last season. He was a victim of the dreaded sophomore slump in the early going, though, failing to register a point while posting a -9 rating during the months of October and November. But he’s notched four points (one goal, three assists) and a +6 rating in the 22 games since
Heat defenceman Chris Breen uses his 6’7” frame to separate an Oklahoma City Barons opponent from the puck.
Steven Christy / OKC Barons photo
Continued on page 13
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Adding value through ‘cause marketing’
words from the
Ryan WALTER
prez
Our kids gave me four amazing books for Christmas – they know I love to read. Twenty-five days later, I started reading the biography of Steve Jobs. Early in his book, Jobs talks about his return to Apple Computers as being the most productive and creative time of his career. Jobs’ personal goal during these years was to follow in the footsteps of his friend, Dave Packard, who focused “on building a company that was so imbued with innovative creativity that it would outlive him.” How does this have any relevance towards our community’s team, the Abbotsford Heat? Simply put, we want to do the same! Because our attendance is not close to where it needs to be this season, we must get more creative. When I played in the NHL we were constantly asked to play within the team system; there are things in our business that must be done similarly in a particular way. But great NHL and AHL players still find ways to be creative within the system, and that creativity pays huge dividends. Some players come every day and do the same things (some businesses do that too) and then wonder why they didn’t achieve their goals. I have great respect for the player who plays on the edge and who tries things, who risks things, who is willing to fail, because that player senses that what he or she is trying to do is right.
SO WE AT THE HEAT ARE GOING TO GET CREATIVE! One way we can creatively grow our busi-
Hockey have become great friends, and we will continue to expand the multiple ways that we can add value to each other. Our relationship with minor hockey is one of the ways that our Heat team has executed the principle of cause marketing. We sell our $20 tickets to minor hockey associations and teams for $10, and they in turn sell them at full-retail for $20. By fundraising in this way, one hockey association alone has generated over $30,000, and we have multiple associations using this fundraising product.
ness is through what experts call “cause marketing.” It’s one of the new ways that our Heat team will accomplish our vision (filling our building) and our mission (giving to our community). Cause marketing happens when for-profit and non-profit partners drive revenues, exposure, and fundraising dollars. According to a PRWeek/Barkely PR Cause Survey in 2010, two-thirds of all brands now engage in cause
THIS HEAT FUNDRAISING MODEL IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL NOT-FOR-PROFITS
Creativity pays huge positive dividends.
One week after Bruce Banman became mayor, we met to discuss the many questions that he had about our franchise’s slow financial start. I mentioned the success that we were having with helping minor hockey fundraise across the valley. New fans are exposed to our amazing product and minor hockey parents don’t have to write any more personal cheques to fund their team’s icetime and tournament costs. One of the things that I appreciate about Bruce, and something that we have in common, is his deep love for kids and causes. As Bruce put it to me during that initial meeting, “If the city is obligated to certain expenditures under the contract signed, then let’s use our Heat game experience to support
marketing, up from 58 per cent in 2009. The same survey found that 97 per cent of marketing executives believe this to be a valid business strategy.
HOW WILL THIS WORK FOR OUR HEAT?
Since the beginning of our hockey season we have worked hard to strengthen our company’s relationships with minor hockey associations across the Valley. Trevor Bamford and his executive at Abbotsford Minor
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Youth Comm powered an why the Abbotsford y youth feels included, safe, valued, em hool, in the evening, and is at th , ed at st y pl Sim ter sc re ever ace for youth to go af botsford is a city whe provide an Our vision is that Ab vision by providing a safe, productive pl estyle though exercise and recreation; gative r lif ou ed to d ne work to accomplish courage youth to live a healthy balanc learn skills to respon ovide youth d an t en pm lo ve en de ; daily in the summer to talk about issues that influence their ewhere to go during high-risk hours; pr them to t h m opportunity for yout crime prevention by offering youth so rum to have their voices heard and assis m ds fo ar co a w h. h experiences; work to entors that they are seeking; give yout out us on our website: www.abbyyout m ab t e ul ity. Find out mor with the strong ad ge in their commun create positive chan
The News invited charities and non-profit groups to tell us what they would do with $10,000 for their organization. Ten were randomly selected to participate at the Whatcom Save On Foods “Guess & Win” contest. Contestants were required to guess how many boxes of cereal were in a pick up truck. The five closest, without going over, moved to round two-a “Shoot to Win” contest at the December 18th Heat game.
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Coach preaching patience HE
In each edition of the Abbotsford News’s Faceoff magazine, beat reporter Dan Kinvig chats with head coach Troy Ward about the state of the team. For future editions of Faceoff, fans are invited to pose their own questions for Ward. Submit your questions for consideration via email to sports@abbynews.com, or via Twitter to @dankinvigsports. We caught up with Ward last week, after the Heat players dispersed for the AHL all-star break.
H C N E B
Troy WARD
T
Q The Heat are battling a lot of injuries,
and lost five of six games heading into the all-star break. But after the most recent loss to the Chicago Wolves, you spoke at length about the fact you’re not overly concerned, and that you’re happy to see your team deal with some adversity at this stage. What’s the threshold where your patience runs out – where you become more concerned with results?
A “We’re in an organization where up
above us (the Calgary Flames), they’re fighting to make the playoffs and they’re going to make some moves. At this particular time, we’ll just manage our team as it is. I won’t get real focused as a coach as to how we play or
the consistency of which we play… until sometime after the trade deadline in early March. Because that will be more of a window into this particular group. “The first wave of people we had got off to a really good start. This particular group I’m managing right now hasn’t been as consistent as the first group. They’re young guys, and there’s no point in getting mad and angry and forcing them to say they have to win all the time. At the end of the day, winning is about development. So we’ll be patient, stay with the process, manage this team as we are right now, and worry about getting better fundamentally. So when it’s time for us to be better in March, we’ll be a better team because our fundamentals are so good. “I’m a pretty patient guy. This isn’t a time to say we have to win, or maintain our first or second posture in the standings.”
A “He hasn’t really had a home this year,
and I told him last night, ‘You’re like a bouncing ball.’ He’s bounced from one organization to the next, and he’s been bouncing along. “Now, he’s kind of rolling. He’s playing well, he’s our best goalie, he’s leading our team right now. He’s rolling – this is his home. He needs to embrace it and have some swagger, and quit looking in the rear-view mirror and wonder what will happen if Leland (Irving) or Hank (Henrik Karlsson) comes down (from the Flames). The fact is, he’s rolling now. He’s not bouncing anymore.”
Q After the Heat’s 3-2 loss to Chicago
on Jan. 24, you amused the media folks by paraphrasing a passage from Sir Andrew Barton, a centuriesold English folk ballad. It seems like you’re trotting out one of these nuggets at every press conference. How much time do you spend digging into the poetry books to come up with this stuff?
Q Danny Taylor had a great start to his
Heat career, but he’s gotten the hook three times in the month of January. You’ve said you think he lost his swagger somewhat. What does that look like in practical terms on the ice?
A “(Chuckles) I don’t know – I like to be
well-read. “Most of my time isn’t so much spent preparing for media – it’s spent on preparing for how I teach.”
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faceoff ON THE
BIG
O F F I C I A L
F
STAGE
Abbotsford Heat players, like all AHLers, are just one step away from NHL. We asked three of them to recall their first game in the Big Sh First NHL game JAN. 12, 2006 Boston Bruins vs Los Angeles Kings
BEN WALTER
MAR. 23, 2007 Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks JOE PISKULA
APRIL 3, 2009 Calgary Flames at Minnesota Wild JOHN NEGRIN
How did you get the news you had been called up to the NHL?
When you talk to people about your first NHL game, what’s the story you tell?
Who was famous p the ice th
“It was the morning of the game. I was with Providence (Boston’s AHL afÄliate), and I had just come off a pregame skate. It was unexpected – they said you’re going to play tonight in Boston. So I drove into Boston that afternoon, and I didn’t really nap or anything – just went to the rink. It happened quick, but that was probably a good thing. I didn’t have time to think about it.”
“Just going out for warm-ups. You’re skating beside guys like Joe Thornton and other players that you’ve watched for years growing up. Then there’s the anthem, and your Ärst shift. When it’s all done, you think, ‘Wow, I just got to skate out there with these guys.’”
“Probably Th It was his las Boston – he halfway thro season (to th Sharks), and starting to b MVP player
“It was kind of a shock. At the end of my NCAA season, I was talking to some teams after we lost out in the playoffs. It was down to three teams, and L.A. offered me a chance to come in and play right away at the end of the season. So I couldn’t really pass that up. I got to be in L.A. for a month, and I got to play Äve games. It was pretty awesome.”
“For me, it was amazing.Our Ärst two games were in Chicago and Minnesota. I’m from Wisconsin and went to school there, so it was as close to home as I could be. It was an amazing experience, stepping out on the ice at the United Center, and having so many family and friends see that.”
“I was playin Rob Blake, s pretty cool. Blackhawks Jonathan To have been th rookie year.”
“I was in Swift Current (of the WHL), and I’d been called up to the AHL team, which was in Quad Cities (Illinois) at the time. I got in at around 11 at night, and we had practice the next day. I was nervous to practice in the AHL, let alone play in the NHL. Then I got a phone call that I was Åying out at 5 a.m. to play for Calgary. It was very exciting.”
“My Ärst was in the offensive zone, and we won the draw and the puck came to me at the left point. I took a shot, and it almost went in. It went backdoor, and (Jarome) Iginla just missed on it.”
“Probably Ig with Marian mer Minneso And Todd Be a big fan of h up, being fro ver, so that w
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m the how.
Photo courtesy of Boston Bruins
Photo courtesy of Calgary Flames
s the most player on hat night?
How nervous were you, on a scale of 1 to 10?
What was your welcome to the NHL moment?
hornton. ast year in e got traded ough that the San Jose d he was just become that that he is.”
“Probably 10, for sure. Like I said, it was probably a good thing I got called up that day. You’re concentrating on getting there. I was deÄnitely nervous. I think anyone who says they aren’t is probably lying.”
“My Ärst couple of shifts. I got to play quite a lot that night, when I didn’t think I was going to play much. We lost by three or four goals (actually 6-0), so I think that’s why the coach, Mike Sullivan, played me quite a bit. You realize the speed of the NHL.”
ng with so that was On the s, I think oews might here in his ”
“Probably a 10. But with the Kings, and in Calgary when I was up there recently, the guys are great. at welcoming new guys in and making you feel comfortable. You’re pretty nervous, so that helps a lot.”
“I think everyone has one of those moments. Beforehand, you’re thinking about that a lot, but once you’re out there, you just Änd your groove and try to play your game. It is a lot different in some ways, but it’s still a hockey game, and everybody has their role. If you play that role, you can Ät in.”
ginla, along Gaborik (forsota winger). ertuzzi. I was his growing om Vancouwas cool.”
“I think I was more nervous the second game than the Ärst, because everything just happened so fast. I just hopped on a plane to Minnesota. I was going with the Åow, and I was super-excited.”
ut“I got hit pretty hard by Cal Clutterbuck, who was the leading ying hitter in the NHL. I remember lying down and being like, ‘OK, here on we go.’ And just watching Marion Gaborik, how fast he was. That was pretty cool.”
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‘My offence will take care of itself’ Continued from page 3
“It’s the overall package he brings to the table,” Ward said of Wilson. “He’s embraced the defensive side, and while he’s tried to do that, he’s still an all-star, and I think that’s a credit to him. “Change is tough for all of us in life regardless of our age, but I think it’s tougher for older people. I think he’s trying to embrace how he can play longer in the NHL, as opposed to a shorter stint.” Wilson affirmed that proving he can play well in his own zone has been his primary focus this season. “I know it was something they (the Flames) were concerned with, and I think I had the opportunity to show them when I was up there that I could be responsible and play some solid defence,” he said. “I think my offence will take care of itself, whether I’m playing good defence or bad defence. If I just stick to playing good, solid hockey, I’ll still get the chances.” As one of the AHL’s elite blueliners, Wilson has positioned himself on the brink of NHL employment – he’s had cups of coffee with the Columbus Blue Jackets (13 games between 2007 and ’09), the Atlanta Thrashers (two games in 2008-09), the Florida Panthers (17 games between 2009 and ’11) and the Flames (two games this season).
Wilson has yet to carve out a long-term spot at the NHL level, but that he’s close at all is a tribute to his perseverance. After a forgettable senior season of NCAA hockey at Michigan Tech – he posted just seven points in 35 games in 2004-05, after notching 25 points as a sophomore – Wilson strongly considered giving up the game. Roster spots in the pros were at a premium with the NHL lockout in full swing, and Wilson wondered if it might be easier to find somewhere to put his business degree to use. He ended up casting his lot with the Muskegon Fury, a minor-pro team in the now-defunct United Hockey League. The Fury won the league title that year, and the playoff run helped launch Wilson’s career. He landed an AHL contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins the following season. Wilson is still spending most of his time in the AHL, but he was encouraged to see Smith – at age 27, past the point of being considered a “prospect” – make an impact this season at the NHL level. “It just shows that in the right situation with the right team, if you can get a chance, you can possibly stick up there (in the NHL) and do well,” he said. “I’m still holding out for that, and hopefully it happens. I’ll just work on getting better every day.”
Amy Williams Photography
ABBOTSFORD NEWS
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Burger, Sleeve of Sleeman’s or a Bellini. Now Enjoy the Game!
FAJITA WEDNESDAYS ~ $9 Skillet of beef or chicken w/ sour cream, guacamole, salsa, lettuce, cheese blend, peppers and onions w/ tortillas for rolling.
THURSDAY WING THANG ~ $6/LB
Your choice of Red Hot, Honey Garlic, Black Satin, Sweet Sunset Rock Thai Chili or Teriyaki.
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John Morrow file photo
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You’re from La Ronge, in northern Saskatchewan. What’s one thing you can do in La Ronge that you don’t get to do when you’re away? “I used to skidoo everywhere – to my friend’s house, or whatever I was doing. You could pretty much skidoo all over town. I miss that a lot. Obviously you can’t do that in the city!” As a teenager, which posters did you have up on your wall? Who did you look up to? “Pretty much anyone my (older) brother did. Steve Yzerman was one of the big ones when we were younger, and Sergei Fedorov. Pretty much anyone who was a Detroit Red Wing back then.” When you look back at your hockey career to this point, what’s been the greatest accomplishment? “Becoming a pro – when I signed my first contract. That’s obviously a big milestone for any kid, getting into pro hockey. In junior (with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades) I had some pretty good years too, but signing the contract was the big milestone.” Which song on your iPod do you hope your teammates never find out about? “There’s not a whole lot of goofy songs on there, actually. I’d probably say some of the heavy metal. My brother likes some pretty heavy-duty metal, and I’ve got some Mastodon, that sort of thing. That’s something the guys wouldn’t like.” Hockey players are renowned for their practical jokes. What’s the best one you’ve pulled off, or the best one you’ve seen? “I haven’t seen anything too original, but in junior, I used to put the water cups underneath a guy’s helmet if he was pissing me off. When they’d go to get ready for practice, they’d go to grab their helmet (off the locker shelf), and water would come down on them. I used to use that a lot.”
Q What’s the worst job you’ve ever had? A “I’d say sweeping my dad’s shop back in La Ronge. That was probably the worst job. It’s just boring, that’s all.”
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Not-for-profits can fundraise with Heat Continued from page 5
Hamilton Bulldogs photo
Breen keeps it simple Continued from page 4
then. Simplicity, he says, has been the key. “I’m playing a steady defensive game – making simple plays and simple passes, and seeing the game a lot better,” he analyzed. “The coaches stayed on me and helped me out, my teammates helped me out, and I’ve been able to turn things back around.” For a stay-at-home blueliner, Breen doesn’t play an overly physical game, but when he’s right, he’s using his go-go-gadget reach to disrupt the opposition’s offensive flow. That skill is particularly useful on the penalty kill
– the Heat’s man-disavantage unit is tops in the AHL, snuffing 86.6 per cent of opposing power plays. “He’s a big part of our penalty kill, for sure, and he’s always been able to make plays to get us out of our end,” said Heat head coach Troy Ward, who feels Breen is following a similar track to last year, playing better as the season wears on. “Right now, he’s working on his game, and he’s like anybody – he has his good days and his bad days. He’s going through the process of maturing.”
and help fund Abbotsford’s not-for-profits. Bruce has asked us, on behalf of the City of Abbotsford, to expand our cause marketing scope. It’s a great idea … so we are open for business! If Heat fans in Abbotsford and across the valley have a favorite NFP which they would like to fundraise for, then let’s do business together. Let’s build our fan base by exposing people friendly to your NFP to the amazing AHL hockey right here in the valley. Let’s work together to fund your NFP so that you can add value to the people you
serve. Sounds like a win-win, right? Actually, we are both wrong. It’s a WIN-WIN-WIN because the City of Abbotsford wins also. The more people we bring into our brand new AESC, the better it is for the city’s finances too. Now that’s a great way to be creative … together! Call me directly at 604-743-5060, and I will personally pass you on to the person on our team who can make your effort successful, or connect with us at www.abbotsfordheat.com. Look for more creative ways to add value to our community in future articles.
Hockey-4-Kids Over the 2011/12 AHL hockey season, Abbotsford News Faceoff advertisers will be sending over 200 children and teens to Abbotsford Heat home games. For many kids, this will be their first professional hockey experience. A sincere thanks to: Mad Dog’s Source For Sports Memento Tattoo Medora Dental Care Ocean Park Pizza Play Nation Save On Foods
Clearbrook Roofing Davis Meats Duke of Dublin Honda Way MSA Ford
360 Fabrication / CarStar ABC Restaurant Abbey Collision Abbotsford Chrysler City of Abbotsford
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Hitting an opponent with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice.
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Drop off your entry at Mad Dog’s Source for Sports or The Abbotsford News
CHECKING FROM BEHIND (minor or major penalty)
(Mad Dog’s - 2556 Montrose Avenue, Abbotsford) (The Abbotsford News - 34375 Gladys Avenue, Abbotsford)
Name: Phone: Email: Age: Division:
Checking or hitting an opponent whose back is facing you, often into the boards.
Referee signal: The non-whistle arm placed behind the back, elbow bent, forearm parallel to the ice.
MAD DOG’S
INTERFERENCE: When a player interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent who does not have the puck. Also assessed to a player who deliberately knocks the stick out of an opponent’s hand, or who prevents a player who has dropped his stick (or any other piece of equipment) from picking it back up.
Contest closes April 15, 2012
HOCKEY 101 IS SPONSORED BY: ABBEY COLLISION LTD.
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Rossi rolling for Pilots
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DanKINVIG ABBOTSFORD NEWS
In a season where the injury bug has feasted on the Abbotsford Pilots like never before, Adam Rossi has been a rock for the local junior B hockey club. The 19-year-old forward from Surrey leads the Pilots in scoring with 42 points (16 goals, 26 assists) in 35 games, but it’s how he’s compiled those numbers that’s been most impressive. Rossi is the only player on the Pilots’ injury-riddled roster to play in every game this season, and as of press time, he hadn’t gone even two games in a row without registering a point. That type of consistency is remarkable, and it’s not lost on Pilots head coach Jim Cowden. “If it wasn’t for his play, we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are,” said Cowden, whose team is tied for first place in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League’s Harold Brittain Conference with the Aldergrove Kodiaks. “He’s been our most consistent player.”
John Morrow photo
Adam Rossi’s consistency has been a huge boon to the Abbotsford Pilots this season. Heading into the season, Cowden had Rossi pegged for more of a secondary scoring role, behind the likes of Kevin Lourens, Riley Lamb and Brad Parker. But Lourens and Lamb have been dinged up, missing 19 and eight games, respectively, which has
pushed Rossi up the depth chart. To his credit, Rossi was fully prepared to take on an increased role – Cowden said he showed up at training camp carrying an extra 10 pounds of muscle, and he’s already doubled his point total from last season.
“He’s been a pleasant surprise,” Cowden said. “He came into camp stronger, and his play has been just phenomenal. It’s tough to get the puck away from him – he’s got a great shot, great release, and moves the puck extremely well.”
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