Wranglers forward following father’s footsteps — except in skates

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Amongst Calgary-area sports activities followers, solely the long-timers possible acknowledged this final title.

David Silye simply joined the Flames’ farm crew for an end-of-season eye-opener. The 25-year-old centre has already inked an AHL-level contract with the Wranglers for the 2024-25 marketing campaign.

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Silye, who not too long ago wrapped his collegiate hockey profession with the Wisconsin Badgers, is now trying to make a reputation for himself in the identical metropolis the place his proud dad, Jim, received a Gray Cup with the Stampeders in 1971 and was later elected as a Member of Parliament.

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“You understand what they are saying about fathers and sons … It’s a father’s dream to see his son transfer ahead and achieve success, and to achieve success in what he desires to do,” Jim mentioned, beginning to chuckle as he added this light-hearted follow-up. “It’s not what I needed him to do. I needed him to be a soccer participant. What the heck is he doing in a hockey rink?”

What he’s doing is chasing his dream job.

“Making it to the NHL, that is only a step in that path,” David mentioned. “I’m nonetheless pursuing that objective.

“I’m certain, deep down, my dad needed me to play soccer. However I simply fell in love with hockey extra. He’s been any person to lean on, though it’s two totally different sports activities, simply by way of the crew dynamic and going by way of the ranks and stuff like that. He’s been massive that means.”

David is a former captain of the BCHL’s powerhouse Penticton Vees and spent the previous 4 seasons on the school stage, together with stints at Clarkson, Minnesota State and Wisconsin. A self-described “pass-first man,” he notched 9 objectives and a team-high 23 assists in 40 video games this winter and was one of many NCAA’s finest faceoff males, efficiently swiping 59.3% of his attracts.

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Whereas the Badgers had been hoping to convey him again as a fifth-year senior, he has already earned a finance diploma, is sort of completed with a grasp’s in actual property and was wanting to embark on his professional profession.

David, who’s listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 lb., debuted for the Wranglers in Saturday’s 5-2 highway loss to the Bakersfield Condors. Jim, now 77, was watching the motion on AHL TV.

“I feel it was stable for him,” mentioned Wranglers bench boss Trent Cull, requested throughout his weekly look on Flames Speak on Sportsnet 960 The Fan about his first impressions of Silye. “He’s good within the faceoff circle, which is one thing we desperately want. That’s an space that’s not a energy for us as a crew, so we’d like guys to win faceoffs. I feel he was our greatest man that night time, in order that’s a constructive.

“For him, it’s simply going to be can he catch as much as the tempo of the American Hockey League from school in time to be part of our playoff run?”

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Each rookie faces the same problem, needing to earn the belief of the coaches and show they’re able to contribute.

It was no totally different for Jim when he arrived at McMahon Stadium in 1969.

Greatest remembered as a sure-handed punt returner, he helped the Stamps to a Gray Cup berth in 1970, though they had been defeated by the Montreal Alouettes. They returned to the CFL’s championship showdown — and received it — the next 12 months.

“When you go to a soccer recreation and lookup on the wall of all these stars, I performed with 9 or 10 of these guys,” Jim mentioned. “(Rudy) Linterman and Tommy Forzani and John Helton and Wayne Harris and Larry Robinson … Oh gosh, it goes on. Don Luzzi, Gerry Shaw, simply fantastic gamers. Terry Evanshen, I used to be his backup, and I used to be a backup for Larry Robinson on defence. I used to be a two-way participant. Seems like David!

“These guys would train me and work with me in apply. They weren’t frightened about me taking their job. Robby and I received to be associates and I mentioned, ‘It’s type of neat that you simply’re telling me all these items, however you already know I need to play.’ And he says, ‘Yeah, I do know. However you already know what? We additionally need to win. And if we don’t assist you to, we’re not going to win. If I get harm, you must exchange me. And in case you’re not prepared, we’re going to lose and that’s not going to make me glad. So I’ve a job to do — not solely to play but in addition to show.’

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“So I discovered so much from them. And a method or one other, I feel I handed a few of these issues alongside to David.”

The Wranglers have already clinched an invitation to the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs. With 4 video games remaining on their regular-season slate, all towards the Abbotsford Canucks, they nonetheless have a shot at home-ice benefit.

David is hoping to assist with that quest. The correct-handed centre is thrilled to be again within the metropolis the place he took his first minor-hockey strides ­— he moved to Arnprior, Ont., when he was in Grade 5 — and the place he can bear in mind cheering on Jarome Iginla and Dion Phaneuf and enjoying mini-sticks with household pal Roman Turek.

“It simply occurs to be that Calgary was the suitable alternative for me,” David mentioned. “To have it work out that means, it’s particular.”

Particular, too, for Jim.

He’s planning to be in attendance Thursday and Saturday because the Wranglers welcome the Child Canucks for a twin-bill on the Saddledome.

He’ll be the man with an enormous smile on his face … and possibly a Gray Cup ring on his finger.

“You may most likely inform, the way in which I’m speaking, that my coronary heart is getting larger and I’m very pleased with him,” Jim mentioned. “Very, very pleased with him.”

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

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