A plug and receptacle assembly comprising a plug assembly having a pluggable connector extending between a mating end and a trailing end , and a receptacle assembly having an assembly housing that includes a communication port and a housing cavity accessed through the communication port , a data connector disposed within the housing cavity and positioned to engage the pluggable connector when the pluggable connector is inserted through the communication port along a mating axis , wherein the plug assembly includes a thermal interface region coupled to the pluggable connector , and the receptacle assembly includes a heat sink coupled to the assembly housing , the heat sink comprising a series of spaced apart transfer plates that extend parallel to each other, characterized in that : the thermal interface region comprises a series of spaced apart transfer plates that extend parallel to each other, the transfer plates of the heat sink defining a series of plate-receiving slots of the heat sink , wherein the transfer plates of the thermal interface region are received by the plate-receiving slots of the heat sink such that the transfer plates of the thermal interface region transfer thermal energy generated within the pluggable connector to the transfer plates of the heat sink , and wherein the pluggable connector has a plug side that extends between the mating and trailing ends and includes exterior edges of the transfer plates of the pluggable connector , said exterior edges representing distal edges of the transfer plates of the pluggable connector , the transfer plates of the pluggable connector extending from an interior base surface to the respective exterior edges , the transfer plates of the heat sink extending between the exterior edges of the transfer plates of the pluggable connector ; and the transfer plates of the thermal interface region have leading edges and the transfer plates of the heat sink have port edges , the leading edges and the port edges facing in respective opposite directions along the mating axis , at least one of the leading edges and the port edges being chamfered. the thermal interface region comprises a series of spaced apart transfer plates that extend parallel to each other, the transfer plates of the heat sink defining a series of plate-receiving slots of the heat sink , wherein the transfer plates of the thermal interface region are received by the plate-receiving slots of the heat sink such that the transfer plates of the thermal interface region transfer thermal energy generated within the pluggable connector to the transfer plates of the heat sink , and wherein the pluggable connector has a plug side that extends between the mating and trailing ends and includes exterior edges of the transfer plates of the pluggable connector , said exterior edges representing distal edges of the transfer plates of the pluggable connector , the transfer plates of the pluggable connector extending from an interior base surface to the respective exterior edges , the transfer plates of the heat sink extending between the exterior edges of the transfer plates of the pluggable connector ; and the transfer plates of the thermal interface region have leading edges and the transfer plates of the heat sink have port edges , the leading edges and the port edges facing in respective opposite directions along the mating axis , at least one of the leading edges and the port edges being chamfered. <EOS>