Gillies joins Flames after clinic in NCAA final
The flight from Boston’s Logan International Airport left at 8 p. m. After clearing customs much later on the West Coast, Jon Gillies wearily dropped into the Calgary Flames’ team hotel at 2 a. m.
Ten hours later, he found himself virtually alone on the ice at Rogers Arena taking extra work with goaltending guru Jordan Sigalet. Signed, sealed and delivered. Enough to discombobulate anyone.
Three days ago, the six- footfive, 21- year- old puck- stopper’s 49- save clinic backstopped Providence to a shocking 4- 3 win over Boston University in the Frozen Four finale, right in the teeth of Terriers’ country, at TD Garden.
But the good- old- college- try is now a thing of the past for Jon Gillies after agreeing to a three- year entry- level pro contract only hours before flying to Vancouver.
“It’s happened pretty quickly, over the past couple days,” he said in a deserted visiting dressing room on the morning of Game 1 of the Canucks- Flames tiff. “I’m just trying to soak in everything I can. It’s been pretty cool. There’s no other way to describe it.
“You can’t really put it into words, that accomplishment. It was an unbelievable ride and I wouldn’t want to do it with any other people. Obviously great players, but the way we came together, interacted off the ice was really second to none. It’s a moment we’ll cherish forever.
“A pretty quick turnaround obviously, with the celebration with my Providence team ( Monday) at our rink with our fans and then today, being here.
“It’s been a lot of dreams coming true at one time. Amazing.
“This is a whole new thing to represent. When you play for this organization and have this logo on your sweater it’s about a lot more than yourself. It’s not an individual thing. It’s the great team that’s here, the great staff, the great management and the great city of Calgary.
“It means everything to be able to be a symbol of hope for them and hopefully we can do our best.”
Hope is something Jon Gillies has become adept at providing.
At Providence this year, the Flames’ third- round pick, 75th overall in the 2012 draft posted a miserly 2.01 GAA and .930 save percentage. Over a 108- game collegiate career, he’s been chillingly excellent — 60 wins, 13 shutouts, a 2.08 GAA and .931 save percentage. He concluded his sophomore season with a national championship.
Still, the swiftness in negotiations to get a deal done startled even Gillies.
“I had no idea. I was just told to focus on our season. I didn’t need to be told that. I knew what was ahead of me.
“I don’t know if there’s any moment ( knowing you’re ready to turn pro). You just listen to the people that you trust the most, in terms of your career, that have been there for a while and know you personally, on and off the ice.
“When the organization that holds your right says ‘ You’re ready,’ that’s who you believe the most.’’
With Karri Ramo back in harness and Joni Ortio off emergency recall and out of the picture, Gillies finds himself only a pulled calf muscle and tweaked groin away from making his NHL baptism in the hothouse environment of the playoffs.
“Yeah, but I know Jonas ( Hiller) and Karri are going to be great in there. And if by chance my number is called, I’ll be ready, but for now I’m supporting everyone the best way possible.’’
For the Flames, this allows Gillies to begin acclimatizing himself with the organization, the lifestyle and the Stanley Cup playoffs.
“As we’ve seen with a lot of guys, being in the atmosphere, not only getting to know the organization and his teammates is a great experience,’’ said GM Brad Treliving.
“It’s a difficult position to play and it takes time. The position usually has a long runway in terms of getting to that point where you’re establishing yourself at the NHL level. But we look at our reserve list and we feel we’ve got real good depth at a real important position.
“What jumps out at you is his size. But size can be deceiving. This guy is very athletic. It’s a really unique combination, for a guy that big to be that athletic. Long limbs, but he doesn’t just rely on being big. He’s a real great athlete. He’s able to move and quite frankly I love his IQ. I think it’s one of the most important qualities. The ability to read plays, see things develop, anticipate.
“We talked to him at development camp to go back and really carry a team. And I think he did that. They had a good team in Providence but a couple ( of ) weeks ago there were questions of whether they were going to get in the tournament.
“But he went through that experience of carrying a team through to a championship. Being able to play in big games, being on big stage, those are experiences you don’t replicate. “I like people that have won. “Jon went in and played a national championship game, in Boston, against BU, on a big stage. Those are experiences he can lean on.’’
What Treliving wanted to make abundantly clear, however, was that Gillies arrived from Boston hauling his equipment, not Mount Sinai toting tablets.
He’ll be allowed to progress at the rate that’s best for him.
“All that started today,’’ said the GM, “was the stopwatch on his career. You look at the top goaltenders in the league, it’s taken awhile.”