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Could the schedule be starting to wear down the Abbotsford Heat?
Ten days ago, they ended a trip in Toronto. Last weekend was a pair of home games against the Rochester Americans. On Wednesday, the Heat started another three-game trip with a 5-1 loss in Hamilton.
Nobody will use the travel as a crutch, but the way goalie Leland Irving is surrendering goals of late, and the way the team is allowing shots makes you believe zooming across the time zones is starting to take a toll.
At the juniors ranks, there was some surprise about centre Mitch Wahl being left off the U.S. team for the world juniors. Wahl, of the Spokane Chiefs, was on the top line last year for the Americans and was playing on a sprained ankle the last two weeks before the selection list was completed.
The Flames were also surprised defenceman T.J. Brodie -- fourth in scoring among OHL blueliners with 32 points in 31 games -- wasn't invited to Canada's camp.
