Flames prospect Matthew Tkachuk takes steps to feel at home in Calgary

CALGARY — When Matthew Tkachuk thought about his first NHL training camp, he was more nervous about not knowing anybody than hockey.

So the 18-year-old forward arrived in Calgary four days before the start of rookie camp to join Flames players in informal skates.

Tkachuk hopes the time spent on the ice with captain Mark Giordano, defenceman T.J. Brodie and veteran Matt Stajan extends through the 2016-17 season.

“My worry coming in wasn’t was I going to be able to play hockey,” Tkachuk said Thursday during rookie fitness testing at WinSport. “I have a pretty good feeling that my game, if I do the right things, will take care of itself.

“It was just about getting to know the guys. That was my only worry coming in — I don’t know one guy on the team. Having the older guys like Stajan and Gio taking care of me and making me feel at home is really good.”

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The sixth overall pick in the June draft is well aware he was selected by a team that made Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett NHL regulars when they were teenagers.

“My mindset is this is the team I want to be playing for,” Tkachuk said. “That was my mindset right when I got drafted.

“I knew what the history has been but history doesn’t repeat itself automatically. It’s what you put in. Obviously the previous players that have played here at a young age did everything in their power to make sure they’re ready.”

His father, Keith, scored over 500 goals and had over 1,000 points in 1,201 NHL games for the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Thrashers.

Matthew says his father’s advice about Flames training camp didn’t deviate from previous speeches.

“Same two things every time: ‘Compete and be a good teammate,’ ” he said.

Tkachuk was born in Scottsdale, but grew up in St. Louis. The six-foot-two, 202-pound winger has his father’s hands.

Tkachuk’s 30 goals and 77 assists in just 57 games with the London Knights last season was fifth-highest in the OHL and second on the Knights behind league MVP Mitch Marner. 

Tkachuk had 20 goals and 20 assists in 18 playoff games. His overtime winner in the Memorial Cup final was his second goal of that game.

The Memorial Cup, NHL combine and draft along with Calgary’s development camp in July made for a whirlwind early summer.

Tkachuk then buckled down in the gym to build the strength needed to compete against men. He says he saw results from those decisions in Thursday’s fitness testing.

“My testing scores have gone up crazily,” he said. “I was really happy with my scores today.

“I just want to make sure it translates to the ice. You can be the strongest guy in world, but if you can’t play hockey you don’t have a chance.”

He and 28 other Flames prospects hit the ice for the first time at camp Friday in Penticton, B.C., where Calgary plays the Winnipeg Jets in the annual Young Stars Classic rookie tournament.

The Flames face the Oilers on Saturday and finish Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. Main camp opens Sept. 22.

Another Flames hopeful to watch is six-foot-four, 200-pound centre Mark Jankowski of St. Catharines, Ont. Calgary’s first-round pick (21st overall) in 2012 completed his college career at Providence last season.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press