Ilya Solovyov earns name up, has large position to play for Calgary Flames Specific Occasions

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What occurs in Vegas, stays in Vegas. 

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Typically, although, you don’t get to remain in Vegas in any respect. 

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Ilya Solovyov, for instance, flew to Nevada along with his Calgary Wranglers teammates on Thursday in anticipation of their weekend set in opposition to the Henderson Silver Knights. 

The journey didn’t final lengthy for the 23-year-old Belarussian defenceman, although. A name up from the Calgary Flames meant he didn’t even make it out of the airport. 

“All I knew was our common supervisor on the AHL workforce, Brad Pascall, instructed me in all probability I’ve to return again from Vegas to Calgary the following day however once we landed in Vegas he referred to as me and instructed me ‘Ilya, I’m ready for you at baggage declare, it’s a must to seize your luggage and also you fly again proper now,’“ Solovyov stated. “Truthfully, I used to be so joyful. I don’t take into consideration ‘Oh, once more, fly.’

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“No, it’s not about that. I used to be simply excited and I can’t wait to step on the ice with this group of men and begin practising and taking part in.”

Solovyov, who was chosen within the seventh spherical, 205^th general, of the 2020 NHL draft by the Flames, already received a two-game cameo with the workforce on the finish of October whereas Rasmus Andersson was suspended. 

This name up feels completely different, although. 

The Flames traded Nikita Zadorov to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday and common supervisor Craig Conroy spoke to Sportsnet 960 The Fan about how the transfer cleared the way in which for a younger participant to get a chance. 

That younger participant, clearly, is Solovyov. 

“The tempo of the sport could be very completely different from the American League,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska stated. “The standard of (gamers) you play in opposition to, in fact, is completely different from the American League. These are two of the large issues. We’re on the lookout for him to maneuver the puck fast, preserve his recreation easy and be a tough defender. That’s what we’re on the lookout for and that’s what he’s able to doing.”

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It’s unclear whether or not Solovyov can be slotting into the Flames lineup for Saturday evening’s tilt with Zadorov and the Vancouver Canucks. Jorden Oesterle and Dennis Gilbert have been stable because the Flames’ third pairing in opposition to the Dallas Stars on Thursday evening, so the workforce have the luxurious of with the ability to give him a pair days of observe in the event that they really feel it’s wanted. 

He was referred to as as much as play, although, so it’s solely a matter of time earlier than he’s getting NHL minutes once more. 

As for what followers must be anticipating, nicely, Solovyov is marketed as a defensive defenceman. At 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 208 lbs., he’s completely able to taking part in a bodily recreation. 

He has scored two objectives and added three assists by way of 16 video games this season for the Wranglers, so whereas Solovyov is raring to assist out on the offensive finish, it’s extra his work within the defensive zone that appears to have earned him his alternative with the Flames. 

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“Bodily play,” Solovyov stated when requested what he’d been engaged on since his earlier promotion. “Our head coach (with the Wranglers), Trent Cull, tells me I’ve to play like a heavy D. Attempt to hit each man and I’m fairly certain the final six video games I performed nicely this manner.” 

If Solovyov can carry that very same type into the NHL and regulate shortly to the pace of the sport on the highest stage, it hopefully will go a way in direction of making up for the absence of Zadorov. 

It’s a chance he has been dreaming about for a protracted, very long time, and it makes a visit to and from the Vegas airport really feel like no trouble in any respect.  

“Our AHL employees helped me seize my luggage and sticks and footwear and that sort of stuff and helped me put it on the check-in spot and test onto the aircraft,” Solovyov stated, shouting out the Wranglers’ video coach and director of workforce providers. “Daniel Johnston, he was like my mommy. He simply received me on the hand and went with me all over the place and stated ‘That is your spot. You may go.’” 

daustin@postmedia.com 

www.twitter.com/DannyAustin_9

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