SAN JOSE -- When Ryan Vesce walked into the Sharks dressing room with his hockey gear in tow, he was greeted by teammates like a long-lost brother.
Except Vesce wasn't even away 24 hours, despite logging enough airline points to make any card-carrier envious.
On Friday, the Sharks right-winger was sent to the minors, which meant boarding an early afternoon flight from San Francisco to Boston so he could join the club's AHL affiliate, the Worcester Sharks.
But with Dany Heatley's status up in the air due to illness, Vesce was sent a text message to return. He received it when he landed in Boston.
That meant a short sleep at an airport hotel in Beantown and 6 a.m. flight from there -- 3 a.m. San Jose time -- to make the five-and-a-half-hour journey back to the Bay Area.
Frustrating? Not a chance.
"It's great news. It's where I want to be. I don't mind flying," Vesce said. "In the minors, we play four games in five nights, three games in three nights in a row. I was sleeping most of the time."
Ultimately, Vesce wasn't needed because Heatley played through his "central-body flu" as described by head coach Todd McLellan.
When players are sent down, they have to physically report, even if they'll be summoned the next day.
For teams like Toronto, whose affiliate is in the same city, it's no big deal. But the Sharks and Los Angeles Kings have affiliates on the other side of the continent.
Sharks defenceman Derek Joslin was also reassigned Friday, but recalled before he actually left the city.
"Last year, I was up I think six or seven times," Joslin said. "It was tough for me last year, it was new for me, but you've got to expect it.
"Hockey's a funny game. You never know what's going to happen."
Feeling bad for a friend
McLellan can relate to John Stevens.
Well, except for the fired part.
Like McLellan, Stevens worked his way up to head-coaching an NHL team when the Flyers hired him a couple of years ago.
His run ended Friday night, making Stevens the first coach fired this year.
"I think we all understand when we get into this position we're probably going to take the bullet before any of the players do in a lot of situations," McLellan said.
"That's his case there. I don't think he did a poor job, just the team isn't doing well."
RANDY.SPORTAK@SUNMEDIA.CA
THREE STARS
AS CHOSEN BY SUN MEDIA
MIIKKA KIPRUSOFF, FLAMES
Another highlight-reel performance from start to finish.
DOUGLAS MURRAY, SHARKS
The big defenceman was a physical force and set the tone for the host.
JAY BOUWMEESTER, FLAMES
Logged a ton of ice time and also had an assist on Calgary's first goal.
