Calgary Flames prospects looking to turn some heads as they hit the ice for the first day of camp
Twenty-six prospects stepped onto the ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome Thursday afternoon and many of them will never play a game for the Calgary Flames.
Two prospects that will be given every opportunity are first round picks Connor Zary and Jakob Pelletier.
Zary was the Flames first rounder in the 2020 NHL draft. This is his first camp with the Flames and even though the team brought in a number of veteran forward in the offseason, he says his goal is to make the big club this season.
"You're coming into the NHL, it's the best league in the world and every team is full of guys that have already played and veteran guys who have been around for a while," the 19-year-old said.
"I think what's communicated throughout every team is probably that a young guy coming in is always looking to take an older guys spot so I think that's what pushes the competition every single day."
PELLETIER'S GOAL IS TO STAY IN CALGARY AS WELL
Pelletier was the Flames’ first round pick in the 2019 NHL draft. The 20-year-old already has one camp under his belt and he says he's not here just to learn – he wants to be in Calgary this season.
"We're here to play. I think the whole staff that's going to make decisions and our job is just to play here," Pelletier said.
"The goal is to make the Flames team for sure."
MORE LIKELY TICKETED FOR STOCKTON
Even though they'd love to be here, the more likely scenario is for both young men to go down to Stockton and see plenty of action with the Heat.
Mitch Love is the Heat’s new head coach and he says he loves both player competitiveness and their hockey IQ.
"You know they think the game at a high level. You know I guess at this level now in the American Hockey League or the NHL you've got to make plays and think a lot quicker than you do in junior right. So that's one thing that they'll continue to work on."
GREAT FRIENDS ON AND OFF THE ICE
Zary and Pelletier have become very good friends over the last few years. They share a lot of connections. Besides to both being number one picks of the Flames, they've played at the U18 tournament together and won a silver medal with Canada at the World Juniors tournament. Pelletier says they like being around each other.
"It's kind of great to have a guy just like him here."
For Zary, it's not always easy to understand Pelletier who has a thick French accent. But he says that's what makes it fun.
"Yeah I'm just usually trying to figure out what he's saying half the time, that French accent," he said with a laugh.
"But he's a great guy, he's really funny and a great time to be around."
The Flames prospects will head to Edmonton on Saturday to take on the Oilers prospects. The same two teams will be at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday.
Puck drop for that game is 6 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.