Around the AHL: Turning up the Heat in Calgary

The Calgary Flames made a head coaching change last week when Geoff Ward was fired and Darryl Sutter was hired.

It’s no secret that the Flames’ struggles this season cost Ward his job but there could be a trickle-down effect and several members of the Stockton Heat may get their shot with the NHL club. Especially, because of how hot the Heat is right now.

Stockton Heat head coach Cail MacLean’s Connor Zary-Adam Ruzicka-Matthew Phillips top line continues to torment opponents, and NCAA-signee Connor Mackey has settled in nicely on the blue line.

Zary, 19, was the 24th-overall pick by the Flames this past fall. He is up to 3-4-7 in his first seven pro games and on a five-game point streak. He will have to return to the WHL soon, but he is getting an up-close look at pro standards alongside Ph