Flames prospect in spotlight at Memorial Cup after breakout season
Gawdin earned Memorial Cup’s stage with superb five-year career in Swift Current
Glenn Gawdin came into the season feeling good about the possibility of posting some pretty hefty numbers.
“Maybe not these numbers though,” admitted the 21-yearold Swift Current Broncos captain.
“To say I expected this, probably not. But I said, ‘why not — it’s my last year?'”
The Calgary Flames prospect is in the midst of putting the final touches on a five-year career with the Broncos with his first appearance in the Memorial Cup.
More to the point, he’s one of the focal points of the tourney.
Shortly after raising the Ed Chynoweth Cup on Sunday he was named the Western Hockey League’s playoff MVP thanks in large part to his 14 goals and 32 playoff points in 24 outings.
Add that to the whopping 56 goals and 125 points he posted in 67 regular season games and it’s understandable why the Richmond, B.C., native is a bit stunned by his output.
After all, in his previous four seasons he’d never eclipsed the 60-point mark.
This year he’s scored 70 goals. “I think deep down I always thought I could put up great numbers but a lot of it has to do with playing on a line with Tyler (Steenbergen) and Aleksi Heponiemi,” said the Broncos top centre of linemates who also eclipsed the 100-point barrier.
“We just kind of clicked and built off last year.”
In light of his breakthrough it’s hard to believe the biggest thing missing from Glenn Gawdin’s game not too long ago was confidence.
A fourth-round pick of St. Louis in 2015, the Blues opted not to sign Gawdin, understandably shaking his self-belief and worth.
“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t affect my confidence,” said Gawdin, as he packed his bags for the 100th edition of the fourteam showdown in Regina.
“They didn’t sign me, but I’m aware it’s a business and they’re doing what’s best for the organization. I just tried to use it as motivation and came into this year wanting to prove them wrong and be a difference-maker. I think I accomplished that.”
The Flames pounced on the 6-foot-1, 191-pound right-handed shot immediately by inviting him to development camp. In November, while Gawdin was in the midst of a 14-goal, 40-point binge his first 18 games, the Flames inked him to a three-year entry deal contract.
“I think definitely my confidence is at an all-time high,” said Gawdin, who had five goals in the six-game championship series against Everett.
“Winning the league and the way everything has played out with the team success and players around me making me better ... it’s been incredible.”
Surely, it’s bolstered his belief he could have a shot at making the jump to the NHL next season.
“I haven’t thought about it too much — I’m trying to stay in the moment and win a championship in my last couple weeks of junior. “You can’t just walk in and make a team, you have to earn it so I’ll try to continue my success at the next level.”
Gawdin said he felt he acquitted himself well at the Flames training camp last fall, kick-starting his magical season.
“I thought camp was OK — I thought it was my best one out of all of them (including his camps with St. Louis),” he said.
“I wanted to come into Calgary with the right mindset — I wanted to make a name for myself and show what kind of player I was as quickly as possible. They sent me down and said they’d keep an eye on me.”
They sure have, as Flames player development guru Ron Sutter spoke regularly with Gawdin, especially during the WHL final when Sutter’s son, Riley, was playing for the Silvertips.
The long list of people who have lit up his phone with congratulations since Sunday includes Flames GM Brad Treliving whose top priority this summer is to find scoring depth for his lineup.
Surely, Treliving has allowed himself to dream about the possibility it cold come from within, by someone of Gawdin’s ilk.
After all, the lad finished plus61 this season, which speaks to the fact he’s responsible defensively as well.
Critics are quick to remind optimists Gawdin posted those numbers as a 20-year-old. Nonetheless, impressive steps were taken, perhaps changing the long-term outlook for the youngster.
For now, his only focus is on a tourney in which all eyes will be on the round-robin finale next Wednesday when the Broncos face the host Pats as part of an intense rivalry. The Broncos will arrive with a large group of supporters who spurred them on to a Game 7 win in a hard-fought, first-round win over Regina.
It marked the second year in a row their playoff series came down to a seventh game, with the Pats winning the previous year.
“With us beating them out they’ll be coming after us,” said Gawdin, whose club is the tourney favourite amongst a group that also includes the AcadieBathurst Titan and the Hamilton Bulldogs.
“I’ll be expecting a lot of that and it’s the last game, so I’m looking forward to that.”
One of the many things to look forward to now.