ABBOTSFORD, BC -- The Abbotsford Heat are coming off of a one win and one loss effort at home against the Lake Erie Monsters over the weekend. Abbotsford won Friday 4-2, but lost on Saturday 3-1, which finished the season series between them at 2-2. Overall, the Heat are 4-4-0-1 through nine games and sit in third place in the West Division and eighth in the Western Conference.

HEAT @ COMETS

The Abbotsford Heat and Utica Comets (AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks) will begin a new rivalry in the AHL beginning tonight. The two out of division squads will play 12 times this season, which is the most of any opponent the Heat will match-up against. The Comets have struggled out of the gates and have yet to pick up their first win and sit at 0-5-0-1. They played twice over last weekend and lost on Friday 2-1 against Syracuse in a shootout and on Saturday dropped a 3-2 decision to Hamilton. The Canucks affiliate are currently in the midst of a six game home stand and have averaged 3,489 fans at the 4000 seat Utica Memorial Auditorium through their first three home games. The Comets are led by Pascal Pelletier who has registered eight points in five games.

HEAT @ BULLDOGS

Saturday night will mark the first of eight meetings between the Heat and Bulldogs. Hamilton is off to a solid start as they sit tied for first place in the North Division with a record of 4-2-0-2. Last year the season series was dead even with the Heat earning a 4-4-0-0 record in the eight games with both teams scoring 18 goals apiece. The all-time record has the Heat owning a 14-12-1-1 record against the Montreal Canadiens affiliate, but has struggled at Copps Coliseum at 6-7-0-1. The 'Dogs are led by Sven Andrighetto who has seven points in eight games. Former Heat forward Akim Aliu recently signed a 25 game PTO with Hamilton and has four points in eight games.

2012-2013 Heat vs. Bulldogs season series:

10/28/12- HAM 2 ABB 1 @ Hamilton 01/16/13- ABB 2 HAM 1 S/O @ Abbotsford

11/30/12- ABB 5 HAM 1 @ Abbotsford 03/05/13- HAM 2 ABB 0 @ Hamilton

12/01/12- HAM 3 ABB 1 @Abbotsford 03/27/13- HAM 5 ABB 3 @ Hamilton

01/15/13- ABB 3 HAM 1 @ Abbotsford 03/29/13- ABB 4 HAM 3 @ Hamilton

2012-2013 individual scoring leaders in season series (returning players):

ABB: Reinhart (2-2-4), Horak (3-1-4), Street (3-1-4), Jones (0-2-2), MacKenzie (0-2-2)

HAM: Holland (1-4-5), Leblanc (2-1-3), Pateryn (1-2-3), Beaulieu (0-3-3)

NEWS & NOTES

On Monday, the Heat assigned goaltender Laurent Brossoit to the Alaska Aces (ECHL affiliate of the Heat) and have recalled goaltender Joni Ortio from Alaska. Brossoit has appeared in two games with the Heat this season and made his first AHL start on October 20th in Texas in what turned out to be a 9-3 loss. Ortio has started the season on fire in Alaska. He won three of his four starts and only allowed four goals and added a pair of shutouts. With the Heat playing three games in four nights this week, Ortio may see the net at some point.

Rookie centre Corban Knight continues to have a fantastic start to the season. He has scored in back to back games and is currently riding a three game point streak. This is the second time this early season that the High River, Alberta native has recorded points in three straight. He is tied for the team lead in points with seven.

Brandon Astle will bring all live Heat action this week on 101.7 CIVL FM and on www.teamradio.ca. The pre-game show begins 15 minutes before puck drop.

The Heat's next home game will be against the San Antonio Rampage (AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers) on November 5th and 6th and the Toronto Marlies (AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) on November 9th and 10th. Saturday November 9th will feature an appearance by NHL Hall of Famer Mike Bossy, who will be available for autographs before the game on the AESC conc