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There will be no farewell parade here for Sven Bärtschi. No long goodbyes for Joni Ortio, nor plucky Corban Knight. Never heard of them? Don’t worry. Even in this thriving city, an hour’s drive east of Vancouver, the lads were ignored.

Which may seem strange, even borderline outrageous. Messrs Bärtschi, Ortio and Knight are professional hockey players, possessed of extraordinary talent which they displayed night after night in Abbotsford. All three are expected to play full time in the National Hockey League one day. For now, they toil in the American Hockey League, one step below the NHL.

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Life in the minors is tough: Lots of travel, relatively small paycheques, more obscurity than one might welcome. Especially in Abbotsford, where the hometown Heat have for five years played in a fabulous new arena, in front of empty seats.

It was announced Tuesday that the Heat will expire come the end of this current AHL campaign.