After spending five years with the Swift Current Broncos, Glenn Gawdin is adapting to professional hockey south of the border.
The former Bronco captain is currently playing for the Stockton Heat in the American Hockey League after signing with the Calgary Flames last season.
Gawdin, 21, has six goals, five assists, and 20 penalty minutes in 23 games with the Heat, who are currently fourth in the Pacific Division with an 11-11-1-0 record.
After spending five full seasons with the Broncos, the Richmond, BC native said the off-ice adjustments have been as important as the on-ice changes.
“It’s been pretty good. A lot of the guys here have been pretty helpful, getting set up with housing and all that kind of stuff that you didn’t have to go through in junior and being set up with a billet. It’s just everyday things like taking care of your body and being ready to play every night.”
The 6’1’’, 190 pound centre scored his first professional goal on October 6 during a 6-5 overtime loss to the Ontario Reign. He beat Peter Budaj for a first period goal to give the Heat a 3-1 lead.
“I think it was my second game, so I didn’t have to wait too long to get it out of the way and you can kind of just play after that, not thinking too much about having to score. It was a special moment and I got to do it at home, so that was nice.”
Gawdin has already played against former teammates Jon Martin, Stuart Skinner, and Tucson Roadrunners Matteo Gennaro and Tyler Steenbergen.
“It’s a little different obviously, especially Steener. I’ve been playing with him for four years, so to go against him is weird. He’s a good player and those are the kind of games that you circle on the calendar that you know you’re going to play them. You know you’ve got to be ready to go because they are going to want to go after you as hard as you’re going to go after them. They are fun. They’re good players and being able to see them after the game and before, it’s fun to reminisce about our times in junior. Obviously once we are on the ice it’s a different story, but it’s always fun playing those guys.”
