Latest at the Hockey Writers: a chat with Heat coach Troy G. Ward

Ryan Pike
October 12 2012 10:35AM

 

A year ago, veteran minor league coach Troy G. Ward inherited the position of head coach of the Abbotsford Heat from departing bench boss Jim Playfair. An assistant for one year with the Heat under Playfair, Ward gained a bit of familiarity with the club and its players and set right to work developing a winning strategy.

The strategy was largely successful. Despite losing a laundry list of players to the Calgary Flames due to a lot of injuries on the National Hockey League roster, Ward and his crew put together a strong 42-26-3-5 record and returned to the Calder Cup playoffs, eventually being dispatched by the Toronto Marlies in the second round.

On the eve of the 2012-13 American Hockey League season, his second as head coach and third overall with the Abbotsford Heat, Ward discusses the team’s successes, the organization’s development philosophy and his goals for the coming hockey year.

Read the rest here

 

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A Calgary native and a reporter of various kinds since 2005, Ryan Pike is in his third season covering the Calgary Flames. He's a contributing editor at The Hockey Writers (covering the Flames and the NHL Draft) and a columnist at Tough Talk MMA. He's been yelled at by all kinds of famous people.
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Reply #1 ChinookArch October 12 2012, 09:36PM
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I have a lot of time for Troy Ward. Great interview Ryan!

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Reply #2 Kevin R October 13 2012, 05:48PM
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Nice game for the Heat & Baerschte looked amazing & loved how Aliu beat the snot out of a guy. Reinhart & Horak looked good too. We lose this season & the face of the Flames will be looking so different when things get back to playing.

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Reply #3 FlamesForever October 13 2012, 09:31PM
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How are Oilers fans going to feel when the SVENsational one leads the AHL in scoring!

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Reply #4 Johny Bones October 14 2012, 01:29AM
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Just wanted to point out that without SVENsational alongside him in Portland, Ty Rattie has 12 points in 10 games. Being another year older, stronger, faster, wiser, and more experienced, you'd expect Rattie's production to increase, not stay the same. I guess it goes to show you how valuable Sven was for Rattie and the Hawks last year.

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Reply #5 Kevin R October 14 2012, 11:00AM
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Johny Bones wrote:

Just wanted to point out that without SVENsational alongside him in Portland, Ty Rattie has 12 points in 10 games. Being another year older, stronger, faster, wiser, and more experienced, you'd expect Rattie's production to increase, not stay the same. I guess it goes to show you how valuable Sven was for Rattie and the Hawks last year.

He's still a pretty solid prospect & would love to see the Flames pry him out of St Louis in a deal.

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