Especially in a summer scrimmage setting, most of the tryout invitees have a tendency to tap the brakes when they’re heading into a corner with the latest first-round draft choice.
You don’t want to be the guy who is taking runs at the top prospect.
“I’m going to push him. He’s a first-rounder, but it doesn’t really matter to me,” Isa said with a wide smile. “We’re going to push each other. We’re going to battle. And we’re on opposite teams, so when the scrimmage comes, maybe hit each other a couple times. Maybe a cross-check to the mouth, you never know.”
Hopefully, these blue-line brothers from Nobleton, Ont., will keep it civil in Saturday’s three-on-three scrimmage at WinSport.
They could always brawl back at the team hotel, since they’re also roommates this week.
Isa, just for the sake of clarification, scored an invite to Flames’ development camp before Zayne was selected by the club with their first of 10 picks last weekend at Sphere in Las Vegas. (Zayne, 18, celebrated another pinch-me moment on Friday, scribbling his signature on an entry-level contract. His older brother was in the room, doubling as witness and family photographer.)
Isa, 20, skated this past season with the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL and is committed to Bemidji State University. Before he heads off to school, he’s hoping to leave a lasting impression on the Flames’ brass. It’s not uncommon to see a signing announcement and think, ‘Hey, wasn’t that guy at summer camp a few years back?’ Perhaps, Isa will someday receive a call to once again join his brother in Calgary.
“I’m so proud of him,” Zayne said. “So many people have counted him out. So many people have cut him from a team. So to see him here, in this spot, it puts a smile on my face. I mean, I hope he can reflect on this and see how far he has come, because it’s pretty impressive.”
CONFIDENCE BOOSTER
Matt Coronato’s stat-sheet from his rookie season with the Flames shows three goals and nine points in 34 big-league outings.
There’s no column on HockeyDB for what he considers to be the most crucial component of his development.
“For any player, I think confidence is the most important thing,” Coronato stressed during a break in the action at WinSport. “And I think last year was really big for me because I think as the year went on, my confidence kept growing and growing. It makes me excited thinking about training camp and thinking about where I’m at. I feel good about myself. I’m excited to go in and show what I can do.
“I mean, I’ve always been confident in myself. But it’s just all the learning that I did last year — the way the game is played, the way guys do things. It just continues to build and build. And I hope that it continues to build and build and build the longer I play.”
Coronato is the most experienced camp attendee this week. Of all these dudes, he is undoubtedly the best bet to crack the opening-night roster.
The 21-year-old right-winger should be a candidate for a top-six role at the Saddledome, although he’ll have some extra competition after the addition of Anthony Mantha as a free-agent signing.
One of Coronato’s top priorities during this off-season is to push his pace a little. His summer schedule has included several sessions with Flames skating coach Danielle Fujita.
“I give a lot of credit to Danielle,” Coronato said. “I feel like I’ve taken some strides and I feel like I can continue to do so.”
ICE CHIPS: Eric Jamieson has been beaming for the past week, ever since he was selected by his hometown team in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft. The hard-hitting blue-liner was surrounded by his family at their house in McKenzie Towne when the Flames announced his name at No. 177 overall. “My brother (Luke) kind of spoiled it for us,” grinned Jamieson, a graduate of what is now known as the Wolverines minor-hockey program. “He was watching on his phone, and it popped up there before it popped up on the TV. So he kind of jumped up and then it was like, ‘OK, here it comes.’ We were all pretty pumped” … Dryden Hunt, Ilya Solovyov and Dustin Wolf saddled up to represent the Flames in Friday’s Calgary Stampede parade … Fans are welcome at Saturday’s scrimmage, which starts at 10 a.m. The action will also be streamed on the team website … Saturday’s winning squad will capture the Snowy Cup, named for the late Chris Snow, who died last September after courageous battle with ALS. Chris’ loved ones will be in attendance to present the trophy. “I know he’s watching and cheering us on,” said Flames general manager Craig Conroy of Snow.