Young Demko eager to get acquainted with pros
Former Boston College star eager to immerse himself in the pro game
Thatcher Demko is fascinated by human behaviour.
Judging by the manner in which the Vancouver Canucks’ welleducated and highly touted goaltending prospect came to terms on a three-year, US$2.94 million entry-level contract Wednesday — the seventh-highest for a secondround NHL selection among active players — he had the right read on the organization. And as an applied psychology major who’s also pursuing a minor in philosophy at Boston College, he knows his career path would make for a good term paper.
After all, this is about preparation meeting opportunity. It’s also about leverage. In addition, it’s about keeping his professors on his good side while he heads to Russia next month for the world championship tournament and tries to balance schooling and skating.
“I’m kind of in shallow water with the professors by leaving for worlds, but it (education) is important to me,” Demko joked Thursday in a telephone interview after class, knowing he now needs four more years of summer schooling to graduate. “I’m going to keep up my classes in Russia at the worlds and then fly back there (Boston College) right after.”
If anything, Demko has a head for advanced studies and advancing his career. His contract speaks to his pro potential. It also speaks of a Canucks franchise that doesn’t have a bonafide prospect and needs to nurture the NCAA’s top stopper who was a Hobey Baker finalist as this season’s top collegiate player.
And in providing the perfect landing spot with a starting job with the American Hockey League’s Utica Comets dangling like a carrot, returning for his senior season with the option of becoming an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15, 2017 was never in the cards for 20-yearold Demko.
The second-round pick (36th overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft had nothing left to prove and needed to take the next career step, while the Canucks needed more good news after a bad season.
“I never even thought about free agency,” said Demko. “There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to sign with Vancouver at some point. The big thing for me is that I love Boston College. They’ve given me the opportunity and I thought I owed something to them to come back and finish out my four years. But I felt like this was a once-ina-lifetime opportunity with the situation that Vancouver has and it was the right time for me to take the next step in my career.”
Demko had the drive and numbers to back up his readiness — a 27-8-4 regular-season record, 1.88 goals-against average, .935 save percentage and a school-record 10 shutouts — but a Frozen Four semifinal loss hit the six-foot-four San Diego native hard.
“To be honest, I’m still not over it and I don’t think I will be — ever,” added Demko. “(Canucks general manager) Jim Benning did an unbelievable job making sure my family and I were comfortable, and I only talked to him once on the phone. He let me take my time and make sure I could collect myself before making any decisions. I really respected the way he handled the situation.”
How Demko handles the switch from weekend hockey to three games in four nights in the AHL will be a mental and physical challenge. Players are better. Shots are harder, quicker and more accurate. Turnovers are plenty and crease-crashing is the norm.
“I’ve developed well and have had some success and I’m a guy who has always stepped up to the next level when the challenge is calling,” he said. “I did get the opportunity to play at the world juniors against (Connor) McDavid, (Max) Domi and (Anthony) Duclair and that’s the closest I’ve been to the pro game. I expect faster guys and the puck is going to be moving quicker.
“It’s just an adjustment period from a physical sense and just learning the grind of a pro schedule.”
That could takes years in the minors, but Demko is already looking at fast-tracking his path to the NHL. Asked if he can envision one season in the AHL and then join the Canucks for the 2017-18 campaign, he didn’t hesitate.
“I do and I’m going to try and develop quickly but not rush things,” he said.
You don’t have to look far for what sparks the drive. His father, Brenton, who attended the University of B.C., was always pushing his son’s limits no matter what the activity. And Canucks rookie Jared McCann was texting Demko all season, giving him the gears about his (signing) decision.
“(The drive) comes from my dad,” said Demko. “He never let me win anything when I was little, even mini-hockey or whiffle-ball, he always stuck it to me and would rub it in my face. But now I can give it back to him.”
And McCann, too.