UPDATE, December 10. Heeter sat as backup to Calvin Pickard as the Marlies got a win, and is now on his way back to the Orlando Solar Bears who are in Fort Wayne, Indiana today.
In Friday evening’s Marlies game in Laval against the Rocket, Garret Sparks left the game during the Lancer de Toutou and stayed on the bench in his gear, but didn’t play.
Calvin Pickard came on after Sparks left the game after the Lancer de Toutou (teddy bear toss) He stopped all 15 shots he faced and is now 7-2 with a 1.74GAA w the #Marlies
— Todd Crocker (@HockeyCrock) December 9, 2017
Today, the Marlies announced they have recalled Cal Heeter, the Solar Bears starter, ahead of the 3pm afternoon rematch in Laval. Kasimir Kaskisuo, the Marlies third starter behind Pickard and Sparks, is still on loan to the Chicago Wolves.
Heeter started the ECHL season very cold, but has been better lately as the Solar Bears have been winning games. The Solar Bears have a game tonight in Kalamazoo, Michigan, making the call-up logistically possible, but it puts the Solar Bears in the hands of new signing Mackenzie Skapski.
Heeter has a Save Percentage of .899 in 17 games played, which leads the team. Skapski has .875 in only seven games.
Calvin Pickard is expected to start for the Marlies, and when we have any real information on the state of Sparks, we’ll pass it along. Sheldon Keefe said after last night’s game that Sparks said he had tweaked something on the goal that led to the rain of bears.
After today, the Marlies don’t play again until Friday in Rochester.
