SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Stockton Heat made their first trip out to San Jose for a preseason match up against the Barracuda. The game gave the fans a taste of what AHL hockey will be like in California. These two teams will face up a total of 12 times in the coming season, and if tonight was any indication of what is to come, then we are in for a treat.
Keegan Kanzig (8) checks Mkike DiPaolo in front of goalie Eric Hartzell – Photo by Jack Lima
The Heat came away the victors for the night at the final buzzer with a final score of 4-2.
Seconds after the first puck drop, Garet Hunt and Alex Gallant went toe to toe. Despite the obvious height difference, Hunt at 5’8” and Gallant at 6’0”, it was a pretty even on both sides.
Hunt, a former fan favorite of the ECHL Stockton Thunder, and teammate Ryan Constant, were invited by the Flames to try out for the new Stockton Heat. At the close of the last season, the ECHL Thunder moved to Glens Falls, NY and changed their name to the Adirondack Thunder, under the Flames organization.
Hunt was happy for the opportunity to try-out. ““This is a great opportunity from the Calgary organization to let me come out here and participate in training camp.”
Garet Hunt (L) fights Alex Gallant – Photo by Jack Lima
As the game progressed, the action was fast and furious. Solid checking at both ends, as the teams worked the puck back and forth on the ice. The first period remained scoreless at the first intermission.
The Heat returned to the ice and scored two goals in the second period. Michael Kirkpatrick’s goal went top shelf against Troy Grosenick, in the net for the Barracuda, at 4:34 into the period. His goal was followed by the first ever signee for the Heat, Louick Marcotte at 13:45. Marcotte’s goal found the net from the side corner and was assisted by Hunt and Dana Fraser.
Patrick McNally (51) tries to move Garrett Thompson out from in front of the net – Photo by Jack Lima
Kirkpatrick spoke briefly about his goal following the game, “We have really been preaching about trying to drive it wide and find a lane to shoot from. Luckily, the pass was there and the defense backed off. The puck sort of stuck on the ice there for a second so I had to do a spin to grab it and luckily it went in.”
Barracuda’s Petter Emanuelsson fired a shot through traffic from the slot with only 36 seconds remaining in the period, to put the Barracuda on the board.
The late Barracuda goal gave them some much-needed momentum, which carried over into the third period, when Julius Bergman slammed a shot past Eric Hartzell for the equalizer goal only twelve seconds into the period.The Heat’s Aaron Johnson scored the go-ahead and ultimate goal winner at 9:52, assisted by Hunt and Marcotte.
Louick Marcotte – Photo by Jack Lima
The game became very physical from that point, with nearly every whistle leading to linesmen having to separate players from one another. Marcotte sealed the game at 17:54 with a quick shot from the slot that was redirected by Morgan Klimchuk past Aaron Dell in the net for San Jose.
Marcotte spoke after the game, “It was a great team effort. We try to be a physical team every time we hit the ice and tonight I thought we did a good job of getting on them quick, especially in the third.”
Aaron Johnson – Photo by Jack Lima
“They were both really nice plays by (Louick Marcotte). The first one he just snuck past the goalie on the weak side. Then (Aaron Johnson) with a really nice finish on the game winner. I thought my line mates played really well and it was a lot of fun out there,” said Hunt on the two assists.
Hartzell had 30 saves for the game win in the Heat sweater.
Heat goalie Eric Hartzell – Photo by Jack Lima
Stockton’s Marcotte and Hunt received the first and third stars of the game, respectively, while San Jose’s Bergman received the second star.
The next pre-season game is at the Stockton Arena on Friday, October 02, when the Heat will host the Bakersfield Condors from the south. The season opener will be on Saturday, October10, when the Rockford Icehogs make a California trip to Stockton.
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