Abbotsford Heat vs Toronto Marlies Season End Thoughts || Vancouver Sports Photographer

Back from Toronto with the Second Round tied one game a piece, the Abbotsford Heat were more than ready for a 3 night home stand of games. There were periods were it sounded like both teams tore up a few layers of ice racing back and forth, testing goalies for that first goal. The games seemed to go by so fast and in the end the Marlies beat the Heat to move on to Round Three of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Our good guys battled and with the Heat making the playoffs twice in three seasons, they should be so proud of themselves.

A few for the Marlies Fans…Namely Lindsay and Jay!

It was a battle of the goalies, in game 5 Taylor made some epic saves.

Above are just a few of my favourite photos from the season. I’ve been shooting sports since I was in high school and am so grateful to be the photographer for the Abbotsford Heat. I’m really a football girl at heart, but this hockey thing sure has grown on me. There’s nothing sweeter than the sound of the goal horn, or being able to shoot from the suicide box between the teams, learning new swear phrases almost every game! It’s such a different sport to shoot, so fast and trying to catch the moments as they go by, then being excited to head home after the game and download all of the photos. Yeah I’m a photo nerd.

I know in the last three seasons The Heat have been growing their brand and their fans. I constantly talk to people, friends and family about the team. The number one thing people always comment on is how the Heat is the Calgary Flames farm team. Yes that is true but guess what? These guys are playing in Abbotsford, BC with hopes of stepping onto the ice for a NHL team. That may be Calgary or it may be one of the other 30 NHL Teams. When we play other AHL teams we are the Abbotsford Heat. Not the Calgary Flames I would think by now that people who LOVE hockey would be lining up at the door to see these future NHL stars in action. I still find it funny that the Chicago Wolves, farm team for the Vancouver Canucks had second place in attendance for the AHL. For a state who’s NHL team hates Vancouver they can find the fans to support their Chicago team. Then looking at Abbotsford, the excuse I always hear is well they are Calgary’s farm team. Frustrating? Yes, maybe Chicago just has smarter fans who know that they are not cheering for the Vancouver Canucks they are cheering for their Chicago Wolves. I hope next season, the “hockey fans” who haven’t come out to a game, yet put the team down because of their NHL affiliation, give the Abbotsford Heat a chance. They really don’t know what they are missing.

The other comment I hear is how the Vancouver Giants are in a league above the Abbotsford Heat. It’s true that the Giants have been in Vancouver longer {inaugurated 2001-02} but are in the CHL or Canadian Hockey League. There may be some confusion because the AHL Heat were inaugurated in 2009-10, they are a new team in a fantastic new arena. Again I think it just comes down to education and coming out to a game.

I looked at a recent stat on the AHL’s website and in the 2011-12 season the AHL had 607 graduates on NHL opening day rosters. That worked out to 83% of the NHL’s player pool to start the 2011-12 season. I looked back at our rosters for the last three years and found a few of our past players who have graduated to the NHL: Jason Jaffray – Winnipeg Jets, Brett Sutter – Carolina Hurricanes, David van der Gulik – Colorado Avalanche, T.J. Brodie – Calgary Flames, Brendan Mikkelson – Tampa Bay Lightning, Lance Bouma – Calgary Flames. As you can see not all of our players are playing for the Flames, so think of a game like this: You’re not cheering for the Calgary Flames, you’re cheering for these future NHL STARS. In a few years you’ll be able to say I remember when I watched him in the AHL.

That’s all that’s it from me. Looking forward to the next season and seeing y’all at a game or two. Oh yeah and “Go Heat Go.”

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