Run into Carter Bancks on the street without knowing who he is, and you might not think he's a hockey player, let alone a member of the Abbotsford Heat.

Then again, the recent gap in his teeth, courtesy of a high stick from a Milwaukee Admirals defenceman in the first period of last Friday's 3-2 loss, might alter your perception.

The hit, a late one that went undetected by referee Jamie Koharski, was also powerful enough to jar the helmet off Bancks' head, much to the chagrin of the vivacious forward. But time heals all wounds, apparently.

"It's not too bad, I have had some teeth issues in the past," Bancks grinned on Wednesday. "The thing that's causing me the most trouble is the tooth that just got pushed back and knocked out because it's super sensitive and they're having trouble getting it back into place.

"I honestly didn't realize what really happened. I just knew all my jibs were out and my helmet was off."

The 21-year-old Bancks will eventually require oral surgery. It will have to wait until after his rookie season is over, however. Bancks has become far too valuable for head coach Jim Playfair to have him out of the lineup.

A player with a strong work ethic and an infectiously positive attitude, Bancks leads the Heat with nine points, and is tied for top spot in the American Hockey League alongside fellow rookie teammate Greg Nemisz in short handed points with three.

"You look at a kid like Carter Bancks, he came in immediately and got some points and yet he's still the best shot blocker on our team," said Playfair.

"He's done a very good job on the penalty kill and allowed us to be a team that's willing to learn and get better on the penalty kill, and that trickles down."

Bancks, the Heat's nomination for AHL Rookie of the Month for October, still admits there's a long way to go in his development.

"It's a new league, it's a far better league than junior hockey and there are things the coaches are working on with me daily," he said.

His plight is similar to that of the entire team. The Heat sit second in the North Division with a record of 6-5-0-1, but things won't get any easier for the youngest team in the AHL, especially this weekend.

The Heat welcome a much improved and highly motivated San Antonio Rampage squad to the AESC Friday and Saturday.

The Rampage are an older, more experienced group that's also coming off a 6-1 thrashing to the lowly Toronto Marlies.

"We can't show them any respect," said Bancks. "We have to play them just as hard, if not harder, than anyone else."

Friday's game against San Antonio goes at 7 p.m. at the AESC.

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