The transaction wire shows that he lost his job at the NHL level.
His minor-league stat-sheet, especially in the weeks immediately after his demotion, shows some lopsided losses.
But if you assumed that Calgary Flames’ goaltender-in-grooming Joni Ortio also lost his confidence along the way, well … guess again.
“I don’t think I ever lost that, to be honest. With my game, it’s always been there,” Ortio said matter-of-factly. “I’ve never lost faith in myself and my ability to stop pucks.”
One year ago, when the Flames reconvened after the NHL’s all-star weekend, the biggest question at the Saddledome was, ‘When will Ortio be back?