Exactly one year prior to what will be his first NHL start, Sparks was on the bench playing backup in the ECHL for the Orlando Solar Bears allowing five goals on 25 shots in a 6-4 loss in the previous night’s contest.
That game doesn’t tell the tale of Sparks’ 2014-2015 season, though, because he dominated the East Coast Hockey League, posting a .936 save percentage over 36 appearances. At that point in his career – which was only 365 days ago – he was three goalies down on the Toronto Maple Leafs minor league depth chart.