PENTICTON, B.C. - It’s early Friday and the Calgary Flames’ up-and-comers are buzzing around the practice sheet at South Okanagan Events Centre, a morning spin before their first contest at the Young Stars Classic later that day.
Craig Conroy, assistant general manager and always a go-to for media-types, keeps one eye on the action while chatting about Matthew Tkachuk, the Memorial Cup overtime hero, sixth-overall prize in the 2016 NHL Draft and now hell-bent as an 18-year-old on immediately earning full-time employment at the Saddledome.
“You don’t make the team here, but this jumpstarts you to main camp.