ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - The Abbotsford Heat turned to goaltender Barry Brust to cool off the Chicago Wolves.
Brust made 25 saves in his first start of the season as Abbotsford beat Chicago 4-1 on Saturday to give the Wolves their first loss of the American Hockey League season.
Brust signed in the off-season to compete with incumbents Leland Irving and Danny Taylor for the starting job in Abbotsford (3-0-1). Taylor played the first three games and after Friday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Wolves Brust got the call.
"When we looked at our goaltenders, the way it stacked up, it seemed like the logical choice," said Abbotsford head coach Troy Ward. "He's a very athletic guy, very impressive for a big guy."
The Swan River, Man., native is an seven-year AHL veteran and played 11 games for the NHL's Los Angeles Kings in 2006-07, but he spent all of last season in Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
"The first game of the year to play is always hard," said Brust. "It was a hard one to get through and I got some lucky bounces."
Brust turned some heads with an aggressive play on Wolves forward Nathan Longpre near the end of the second period that sent him into the boards and all game he was battling at the top of the crease. He led the DEL's Staubing Tiger's last season with 109 penalty minutes.
"I feel one of my strengths is my hockey IQ," said Brust. "Certain situations call for aggressiveness."
"Barry's a bit of a different style of goalie," said Heat forward Carter Bancks. "I learned that right away in our first scrimmage we had. I was on a breakaway and he came flying out with a poke check out to the hashmarks and stole the puck from me."
Sylvester began the play by centring the puck to Ben Walter in the low slot. Walter spun around and fired it towards the net where Sylvester tipped it by goalie Eddie Lack for his second of the season. Linemate Sven Baertschi earned the second assist.
Sylvester has found a place on the top line with the young Swiss star Baertschi and the veteran Walter.
"(Sylvester) has great stick skills and he understands the game very well," said Ward. "For a little guy, he's going to sink his teeth into you. When he plays that way he's a great complement to that line. They play at a very high pace, those guys.
"There's a lot of short little plays, and they're on the same page, so Sly compliments Sven very well."
Baertschi and Roman Horak added insurance goals for Abbotsford after Bancks got the Heat on the board in the second period.
Zack Kassian was the lone scorer as Chicago suffered its first loss of the young season in front of a rare sellout crowd of 7,046 fans.
"In the second period we kind of got away from our game," said Kassian. "They took over the momentum, got more confident and brought it over to the third."
The Wolves' NHL affiliate the Vancouver Canucks are just down the road from Abbotsford, and are often a good draw at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.
Chicago opened the scoring nine minutes into the game when Yann Sauve caused a turnover along the boards. Kassian picked up the loose puck, skated untouched into the slot and wired a shot blocker side.
The Heat had a few scoring chances early in the second period to build some momentum but it was a giveaway by Lack that led to the tying goal at 5:10.
The Swedish netminder came out of his net to play a puck but cleared the puck right to the Heat's Adam Estoclet at the blue line. Estoclet waited Bancks to get open at the side of the net and the Marysville, B.C., native spun around slide the puck past a sprawling defenceman.
"Adam made a beautiful play to me," said Bancks. "I was fortunate enough to finish it. After that goal we just built and played an outstanding last two-thirds of the game."
After Sylvester's goal gave the Heat the lead Baertschi made it 3-1 at 12:44. T.J. Brodie's point shot missed wide but Walter directed it to Baertschi in the slot and the Swiss star one-timed it top shelf for his third of the season.
"We just kept battling and it's too bad they got the third one because it put an end to our push," said Lack.
Horak scored a power-play goal at 14:27, from Quintin Laing and Steve McCarthy, giving the Czech winger four goals on the season.
KENNEWICK, Wash. - Parker Bowles scored twice and the Tri-City Americans had four straight goals in the third period to defeat the Spokane Chiefs 6-3 in Western Hockey League action Monday.
Tri-City goaltender Eric Comrie made 30 saves, while at the other end of the ice Eric Williams stopped 27 shots.
Is there funding available for families who may not be able to afford to put their child or children through music lessons?
Are there performance opportunities for my child throughout the year if taking music lessons at the Niagara Conservatory?
It's the time of year to look back, say thanks, and reflect on all the passion for music from the community and our students. With the launch of our Music Gives Movement, we have received so much support from all of you this year.
It’s one of a kid’s favorite parts of Halloween. There’s no feeling quite like waiting for a stranger to open his or her door so you can scream the words "Trick or treat!" But why do we say it? What does it actually mean?
Nine-year-old Jaekob Moore could have played basketball. Or soccer. Or he could have continued on with tae kwon do. Instead, he chose music.
As the Summer begins, so do the many music festivals and events going on in and around Niagara. Check out our list of ‘don’t miss’ local live music.
Spotify announced last week that it would offer workout playlists comprised of songs that automatically match a runner’s tempo, marking the latest step forward in our understanding of the relationship between music and physical activity.
Studies shows Canadians who learned an instrument as a child reported higher levels of education; more than 2/3 believe it's just as important as sports or learning a second language.
So many parents do not understand the extended value of learning music. There’s far more to this than investing in an instrument, scheduling lessons, driving to-and-from rehearsals, and/or attending concerts. The discipline of music making is transferable to every learning situation in and outside the academic community.
Here at the Niagara Conservatory of Music, we are working to foster a sense of community and empowerment for children, assisting to provide music lessons to children from across the Niagara region.
The Music Gives Movement allows us to help children who otherwise wouldn't be given the opportunity, find the musician in them. We have teamed up with ProKids, an organization affiliated with the YMCA that funds extra-curricular activities for families that are in need. Through the partnership, we will assist in the payment of music lessons to those that express an interest and are eligible.
If you have already used your funding for the year please click here to download the release of information form which will allow ProKids to let us know whether or not you are actually eligible. You can also call to see if you are eligible by calling Niagara Region Children's Services at 905-984-6900 ext. 3797 or 1-800-263-7215 or e-mail prokids@niagararegion.ca
The Niagara Conservatory of Music is excited to announce that for every new registration as of January 2015, we will be donating a music lesson to the Music Gives Movement. With over 300 new students signing up annually, along with fundraising in place throughout 2015, we are looking to raise over $10,000.00 for Music Gives annually, and in turn be able to assist a number of children from low income families experience the wonderful gift of music.
We're looking forward to seeing the many students that will gain a sense of accomplishment, confidence and increased self esteem. When these children realize they are capable of creating music, the whole world opens up for them!
Canadian Country Star Tim Hicks has joined the Music Gives Movement in helping provide musical instruments to children across Niagara in need along with Niagara elementary schools to further music education in our Niagara schools. Here's a great link of Tim and our students surprising a student benefiting from the program with a new guitar for Christmas and performing for Domenic at his home!