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Former Blazer Connor Zary recalled by Calgary Flames; set to make NHL debut

Victor Kaisar
Oct 31, 2023 | 10:05 AM


Former Blazer Connor Zary recalled by Calgary Flames; set to make NHL debut

Former Kamloops Blazers forward Connor Zary. (Photo via Calgary Flames)

Connor Zary is poised to make his NHL debut with the Calgary Flames tomorrow, when they host the Dallas Stars.

The Flames called up the former Kamloops Blazers forward from their AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, this morning.

“Very special to get that call yesterday,” Zary said in a Flames media availability Tuesday afternoon. “I was sitting on the couch on a day off and I got a call from [Flames Asst. GM] Brad Pascall. He was the first one to give me the news.”

“I think as a kid playing hockey that is your dream kind of phone call so its pretty special to get that one.”

“The first person I called was my mum,” Zary added, when asked by reporters.

“She was at home a little sick but I think it cheered her up quite a bit to hear that I was going to get the opportunity to come up here.”

Zary is into his fourth season of professional hockey, having just put up his 100th point (38 goals and 62 assists) in 140 career AHL games.

The Saskatoon, Sask. native finished with 208 points (80 goals and 128 assists) in 204 career WHL games with the Kamloops Blazers.

The 22-year-old former first round NHL draft pick currently leads the Wranglers in scoring with 10 points through six AHL games. He was the only Wrangler to skate in all 72 AHL games last year, putting up a career-best 58 points (21 goals and 37 assists) in the process.

“Connor has done what we have asked him to do when he got sent down,” Flames Head Coach Ryan Huska – a three-time Memorial Cup Champion with the Blazers – added Tuesday. “He’s been a really good player in the American league and he’s playing with a lot of confidence right now, so putting him with [Nazem Kadri] gives a little life to our team.”

“The skill that he has shown and his ability to make plays in the American league level is going to give him an opportunity on the power play as well.”

In practice on Tuesday, Zary was slotted on the right wing on a line with Yegor Sharangovich and Nazem Kadri, according to reporting by Sportsnet. He also saw time on the Flames’ second power play unit.

“Its hard being a centre in the American Hockey League, and its even harder being a centre in the National league and sometimes for a younger guy, its a challenge,” Huska said, of Zary’s move to the wing.

“We felt it was in his best interest to see what we could do on the wall and see how he could progress from there and he’s done an excellent job.”