HEAT REPORT - 04.12.17

The Flames are no strangers to scouring the NCAA for undrafted and undervalued talent that could become big parts of the organization one day.
Spencer Foo of Union College, a native of Edmonton, stole headlines over the early portion of the summer as a player who was going to join the Flames organization after being courted by the club.
For good reason too, Foo was just shy of being a point-per-game player at Union, finishing with 112 points in 113 games at the University.
However, Foo wasn't the only college free agent signed by the Flames as the club went out and signed defenceman Josh Healey of Ohio State University to a two-year, entry-level contract back on March 25, 2017.

He'd join the Stockton Heat and play two games while on an amateur tryout agreement through the remainder of the season.
"It's not an easy choice, and it reminded me of when I was picking a school," Healey said of his decision to join the Flames organization. "You don't just look at one thing, but you evaluate the big picture. the living situation both in the NHL and AHL, the coaches and opportunity. Brad Treliving, Craig Conroy, Brad Pascall and the Flames management were all unbelievable, reaching out to me, making sure if I had questions they were always available.
"I was really impressed with the way they conducted themselves through the whole free agency process."
Healey, who completed his studies as a finance major at Ohio State in the spring, was now focused on his hockey career, and it started with summer workouts. An astute observer of others, and a true student of the game both on and off the ice, Healey easily impresses those around him with a laser-like focus on improving mind, body and spirit to propel his career.
Part of Healey's adjustment from being a student athlete to a professional hockey player relied on getting to know others on the team, developing relationships and learning his place in the organization.
"I was in Calgary all summer working out with the boys, so I got to know some of them over the summer and it helped make me more comfortable," Healey said. "I think camp was a good experience too, getting to know the program, coaches and upper management while developing personal relationships with them and start the feeling out process of where you stand with them."
One adjustment Healey won't be making is how he plays the game, earning himself a reputation as a hard-nosed, hard-hitting, defensive blueliner through his time in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, where he was named the AJHL's Most Outstanding Defenceman in 2012-13, and throughout his time at Ohio State.
A search of "Josh Healey" on YouTube will result in a comedian by the same name, and a video titled 'The Next Scott Stevens: Josh Healey - Ohio State Hockey".
That's a good summary of what Healey brings to the table.
"Right from pee wee when we started hitting, it was something I liked to do, and I was good at it, so it came natural to me," Healey explained. "As the years went on, that was kind of my staple and I found that it was a way for me to contribute to the team."
"If I can play hard and physical and have guys know when I'm on the ice, then I've done my job."
Standing at just six-foot tall and weighing in just over 200 lbs., Healey isn't an overly big player, but his hits have packed a punch, literally.
"There's a misconception that if you're a big hitter you have to be big and strong, but it's not the case for me and a lot of other guys I know," Healey said. "Take Ryan Lomberg for example, he throws his body around, fights and he's one of the smaller guys in the league."
"I think people look at size, but I disagree I think that it's just ingrained in you and something you're born with."

Fans have seen a few of these jarring hits thrown at Stockton Arena this season as Healey has stayed true to his word about not changing his style that has made him a successful player in the past, and a prospect for a team with a wealth of riches on the blueline.
While Healey is still learning the ins and outs of pro hockey and adjusting to the speed and size of teams in the American League, his observing and inquisitive nature has led him to learn not only from his coaches, but by watching some of the more experienced players on his team go out and play.
"I've been around the guys long enough that I take bits and pieces from everyone," Healey said. "Like when Rasmus Andersson goes back for a puck and use deception to create space, it's impressive, so I've tried to work on that to add to my game. Tyler Wotherspoon, he'll find a seam breaking out through the middle and I just have no idea how he does that, so there's definitely take-a-ways from everyone that I've been studying from each guy."
"Everyone's here for a reason, they're all good, and so if I can learn from them I will."
With 16 games into his pro career, Healey's team has started the season going 12-6-0-2, while the defenceman has been typically paired with veteran blueliner Colby Robak or North American rookie Adam Ollas Mattsson.
And he's had an opportunity to take some time and develop with head coach Ryan Huska and assistant coach Cail MacLean in Stockton, opportunity that was a big key in his decision to sign with the club in the first place.
Of course, it helped too that he himself is a Western Canadian boy from Edmonton as well, knowing full well that Calgary is not only an amazing city and hockey market with a rabid fan base. It's somewhere he can grow and prosper, even if his friends may not like it.
"Calgary is awesome, and my family was on board and supportive, but a lot of my friends told me that they could cheer for me, but not for the Flames, which is understandable, Healey said with a laugh and a smile."
"Hopefully in the years to come they'll switch sides."

QUICK HITS

• Two games for the Heat against the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors last week and the Heat continued to dominate the season series, earning three of four points against the Condors and going 6-0-0-1 this season against their Central Californian rival.
  - Brett Pollock earned his first AHL assist and recorded his first AHL point (his first pro goal) since April 2016 while on an amateur tryout with the Heat. Pollock spent all of last season with the club's ECHL affiliate.
  - Pollock's assist came on Andrew Mangiapane's game-winning goal, his first game-winner since November 5 of last season and third career game winner. Mangiapane still leads the team with 22 points and with Garnet Hathaway recalled to the Flames, he along with Morgan Klimchuk lead the active roster in goals with nine.
  - Heat goalies Jon Gillies and Eddie Lack stopped 55 of 59 shots in the two games against the Condors this week as the Heat were outshot 59 to 49. Both goalies were integral in the Heat coming away with the three of four points.
  - The Heat headed into Friday's third period down 2-0 but tied things up in a 13 second span when Tyler Wotherspoon recorded his second goal of the season and on the ensuing restart, would eventually find Joseph Cramarossa for a one-time to tie the game up.
  - That wouldn't be the only time the Heat needed to comeback in the third on Friday though as Morgan Klimchuk would knot the game up 3-3 after Bakersfield retook the lead. In the end, the Heat killed off two penalties during the overtime period forcing a shootout, but both Mangiapane and Foo were held off the scoresheet while the Condors scored twice.

QUOTABLES

• "We came out a little slow. Without Jon [Gillies] it would have been a different game in the first. We came out in the second and played simple off the start, got our legs going and good things happen when we get pucks deep and fore-check their defense" - Andrew Mangiapane on Jon Gillies keeping them in the game early on Thursday morning
  - "We have been a good third period team this year and with the group of guys we have in the room, it just took us one to get us rolling. It is tough when you have first period like that, but I thought we really rallied as the game went on. Lack gave us a chance all night and he got us to the shootout so you have to give him props for that and it was good to get that extra point." - Morgan Klimchuk on the team's third period comeback on Friday
  - "As defencemen, we are pretty lucky to have those guys. It is huge and it makes us play more confident. It gives us a presence and it is huge having those guys back there and they make us look good." - Tyler Wotherspoon on the luxury of having great goaltending depth whether it's Jon Gillies, Eddie Lack or David Rittich in net
  - "I think sometimes when you score one there is a renewed life in your group and when we scored quickly again thereafter and you get that belief back that you can come back and win a game and that was a big point for us." - Huska on scoring two quick goals in the third period to help the comeback effort on Friday
  - "When you are on the road that point is important, there is no doubt about that. We have had a couple games where we have not started games the right way and that is the concerning part that we have to work on when we get back to Stockton." - Huska on the value of tonight's point and the approach moving forward