In terms of National Hockey League cities Calgary is about as close to home as it gets for a prospect draft choice.
So when Saskatoon鈥檚 Connor Zary was selected 24th overall by the Flames in the most recent edition of the NHL draft his family was probably thinking about the miles they will be putting in their vehicles driving to watch games at the Saddledome.
When Zary might debut with the Flames of course in an unknown for the 19-year-old centre, made even less certain because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a recent telephone interview Zary wasn鈥檛 even sure if he鈥檇 be attending Flames camp when the NHL ramps up for a season proposed to start in January.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really quite know how everything is happening. It鈥檚 a little bit different (due to the pandemic and league start up),鈥� he said, adding as a result 鈥渆verything is up in the air a little.鈥�
Of course everything this year is up in the air a little, even the draft which was held in October, with players not in attendance as has been the norm in recent years.
Still Zary said 鈥渢he draft was awesome,鈥� even if he wasn鈥檛 on-hand to don a Flames jersey after his name was called. It was still 鈥渁 pretty special moment.鈥�
That it was the Flames who called the six-foot centre鈥檚 name did not come as a great surprise either.
鈥淭hey were kind of one of the teams in the mix,鈥� he said, adding 鈥淚 talked to quite a lot of teams... from July up to the draft teams would reach out.鈥�
Of course that process was different this year too.
鈥淚t was all done over Zoom, or the phone tele-conferencing,鈥� said Zary, noting it had to be different for the teams too, relying on film much more than watching draft eligible players in the heat of playoff runs this year.
That said, the Flames weren鈥檛 exactly Zary鈥檚 favourite team growing up, not that he actually had one team he followed.
鈥淭he Leafs (Toronto), a little bit more,鈥� he said, adding that was a case of following the team that his Dad liked.
Zary himself was less drawn to a team, and more to watching the elite players wherever they played, Sydney Crosby, Patrice Berg-eron, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews. But, who among the elite was his favourite?
鈥淚鈥檇 have to say Crosby, every kid my age I think liked Crosby. He was the best player,鈥� said Zary, adding he鈥檚 still elite today.
Given the situation of the pandemic, and his age, Zary said he has little expectation of playing as a Flame next season. It is more likely he will return to Kamloops where he has played
192 games over the last three seasons with the Western Hockey League team. Last season he recorded 38-goals and 48-assists for 86 points in 57 games.
In the short term Zary has one other hockey goal in mind though 鈥� making Canada鈥檚 men鈥檚 national junior team for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championships to be held in Edmonton starting Christmas Day.
鈥淚 want to be on that team,鈥� said Zary, adding 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 make it last year.鈥�
And, of course 小蓝视频 a Flame is on Zary鈥檚 horizon. He admitted he watched the first day of free agency with added interest, especially when Calgary signed goaltender Jacob Markstrom to a six-year deal.
鈥淚 hope I鈥檓 there within that time frame,鈥� he said.
As a first round draft choice that seems more than likely, but Zary is modest in his expectations, saying he will continue to work to get better as a player to finally earn a spot.
So what does Zary think he needs to work on?
鈥淛ust keep working on my speed, my quick feet,鈥� he said, adding at 19 strength too is a big thing, but that is something that comes as one ages too.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to be there this year. It鈥檚 another year to develop,鈥� he said.
The WHL is currently scheduled to begin Dec. 4.
