Healthy Ortio solidifies team’s depth in net
Even from the bench on Thursday night, Joni Ortio was absorbing valuable National Hockey League experience.
After receiving positive reports from the Calgary Flames medical staff for the last 10 days on his recovery from a high ankle sprain, the 23- year- old netminder was deemed good to go as a backup to netminder Jonas Hiller against the Los Angeles Kings.
“It’s awesome,” Ortio had said after Thursday’s morning skate, prior to the game.
“The atmosphere and the feel in the room, is amazing. We’ve got a chance to do something big here ... I’ve gotta be ready at anytime if I’m needed.”
Earlier in the day — before the biggest meeting in the team’s season to date — the Flames had dispatched Brad Thiessen back to the Adirondack Flames after a brief NHL stint when Karri Ramo suffered a lower body injury on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers. Others in the system: Doug Carr, based in Adirondack, is on an AHL- only deal.
Jacob De Serres, the former U of C Dino, who was signed by Adirondack to an amateur tryout agreement earlier this week.
Mason McDonald, unsigned prospect and a member of the QMJHL Charlottetown Islanders, is out because of knee issues.
Jon Gillies, on behalf of the Providence College Friars, is playing in the NCAA Frozen Four.
So, it was positive information when Ortio — who’d been skating with the Flames for the last couple days — was given the green light.
“If there’s one thing that has to know the value of having two good goalies, it’s us,” said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. “Look at the season Rammer and Hills have given us. When we got injuries, look at how Joni Ortio came in and played for us. The fact Joni has been cleared for us ( Thursday morning) is good news.”
And, of course, riding the pine with the big club quickly approaching the NHL post season is better than where he’s been in the past seven weeks.
“High ankle sprains, they’re pretty common in our sport,” said the likable Finn. "There’s a lot of guys in ( the Flames) room that have had them in the past. I was just talking to them about coming back and how it might feel.
“I’m ahead of schedule, for sure, but I never thought ( the injury) would be season- ending. But being back this early, I don’t think anyone could have expected that.”
The injury had happened on Feb. 20 as the Flames top American Hockey League affiliate paid a visit to the Oklahoma City Barons. Details are fuzzy to the netminder but he recalls his leg getting tangled up with an opposing player and the post.
Right away, he said he knew something was wrong.
And, of course, disappointment set in shortly after when he was given six- to- eight weeks of recovery time ( Thursday was around the seven- week mark).
Ortio, who is celebrating his 24th birthday on April 16, had been recalled earlier this year when Ramo was injured against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 7 and missed five games.
In his absence, Ortio posted his first win at Vancouver and went on to win the next three games ( including a 2- 1 overtime decision in L. A. on Jan. 19).
But now, he’s on board with the big boys who are only a few steps away from securing the team’s first playoff berth since the 2008- 09 season.
“You can prepare as much as you want, but it’s still a good experience for a lot of guys in this room,” Ortio said. "Especially me, I haven’t been up that much. It’s an exciting time. There’s high stakes and we’re playing for a lot here. It’s so much different than it was a year ago at this time.
“I think guys are just embracing this opportunity and thriving on the pressure, if you can call it that.”