Calgary Flames’ affiliate Stockton Heat game postponed due to COVID

Feb 17, 2021; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; General view of the ice surface prior to the game between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2021; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; General view of the ice surface prior to the game between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2021; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; General view of the ice surface prior to the game between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2021; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; General view of the ice surface prior to the game between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

It appears the Calgary Flames are not getting away from this COVID thing.

On Wednesday, the American Hockey League postponed a game between Flames’ affiliate Stockton Heat and the San Diego Gulls.  According to the post on the team’s website, the postponement was due to “league COVID-19 protocols affecting the Stockton Heat“.

This was to be the final game for the Heat before the holiday break.  Their next scheduled game is December 29th, the first of 3 versus the San Jose Barracuda.

Sep 26, 2021; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Jakob Pelletier (49) skates against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2021; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Jakob Pelletier (49) skates against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Nothing was said of who on the team was affected or if further delays are being contemplated.  Suffice it to say, this is not good news for the Calgary Flames, who have 20-some players in the NHL’s COVID protocol themselves.  As I had pointed out in a previous Flame for Thought article, it seemed likely that a depleted Flames team would rely heavily on players from the Heat once games resume.

Players like Jakob Pelletier, Glenn Gawdin, Connor Mackey and Dustin Wolf are all having standout seasons so far.  As such, they’re all obvious candidates to be called up in the event the Flames needs some support once they take the ice again.