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| Captain Evan Fiala, left, and HC Dean Brockman show off a third Pac-Man jersey. |
“My stomach is still not settled here,” said Fiala.
“Obviously, it feels good that is for sure.”
The 20-year-old product of Clavet, Sask., which is located
just outside of Saskatoon, was named the 58th captain in Blades team
history during a press conference at Merlin Ford Lincoln on Tuesday, where the
club also unveiled their new third alternate Pac-Man jersey. The gritty,
stay-at-home defenceman became the first to put on and wear the new alternate
jersey during the press conference’s festivities.
The Blades acquired Fiala in a trade last December shortly
before the WHL Christmas break from the Spokane Chiefs. In 70 games split
between the Chiefs and Blades last season, Fiala recorded four goals, 15
assists, a plus-11 rating in the plus-minus department and 139 penalty minutes.
Growing up in the Saskatoon area and being well liked in the
community, Fiala said it was special to be named captain of the Blades.
“It is a huge honour that is for sure,” said Fiala, who
stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 212 pounds. “Every guy would love to have that.
“With our team, it is not a big deal that is for sure. We
have a lot of good guys who are more than capable. It is a pleasure to wear it
that is for sure.”
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| New Blades captain Evan Fiala puts on the team’s new Pac-Man jersey. |
Even with that fact in mind, Brockman said Fiala was the
obvious choice for the role.
“When you are picking a captain, you want to check the
boxes,” said Brockman. “He has certainly checked more than other guys.
“He just plays the game with a lot of passion. He wears his
heart on his sleeve all the time.
“When you are watching him in practice or whether you are
watching him in the gym or whether you are talking to him, it is just you can
have that adult conversation and the tough conversation with him, and he never
takes it the wrong way. When you are on the same page, it makes things a lot
easier.”
While Fiala was short-spoken during the press conference due
to nerves, Brockman said the rugged rearguard does command the Blades dressing room,
and the other players listen when he says something. The veteran coach said
Fiala leads by example in showing strong traits for other players to emulate.
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| Evan Fiala shows off the front of a new jersey. |
“He is that contagious kind of guy. When you have a contagious
kind of guy like that, you need him to be your leader and to do things right
and do it every day, and that is the toughest part.
“We just found that the connections that he makes with his
teammates were second to none.”
Fiala’s community links were another characteristic that led
to him being named the captain of the Blades. Since arriving in Saskatoon,
Fiala has been active in making all the Blades community appearances.
“He knows the Saskatoon Blades,” said Brockman. “He knows
the area. He knows how important it is for us to have this team bigger in the
community, bigger in events.”
The Blades haven’t had a captain since they sent centre
Wyatt Sloboshan to the Chiefs in the deal to acquire Fiala. Sloboshan was
subsequently traded to the Regina Pats on Jan. 2, after electing to not rejoin
the Chiefs after the WHL Christmas break.
Saskatoon finished the 2016-17 campaign with three players
as assistant captains in now graduated defenceman Bryton Sayers, import
defenceman Libor Hajek, who is now in his 19-year-old season, and winger
Braylon Shmyr, who is now in his overage year. Hajek is taking part in training
camp activities with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.
Brockman said the Blades are still deciding who their
assistant captains will be for the 2017-18 campaign.
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| Evan Fiala shows off the back of a new jersey. |
“I know everyone from last year saw that we were that close,”
said Fiala. “If we have a whole year like we did that second half, we will be
just fine.”
The rearguard described what type of passion he would like
his side to play with to earn their first playoff appearance since 2013.
“We’re coming out every game, and we are going to take that
win from you that is for sure,” said Fiala.
Besides being named the Blades captain, Fiala departs for
the main training camp of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. He heads to
camp as an undrafted and unsigned invite. Wings camp starts Friday and runs
through to Tuesday in Traverse City, Mich., and Fiala heads to that camp with
some positive momentum.
“I felt it was important to send him off on a good note and to
tell everybody whether it is Detroit or whoever is watching that he is a great
leader,” said Brockman. “Those are the attributes you have to look forward to
seeing.
“I think he is the type of kid that if he goes there and
plays well we feel we want him to stay there. Internally, I don’t want him to,
but for his sake, we hope he goes there and does well. This is just a step in
the direction to playing where we think he can play.”
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| New Blades captain Evan Fiala speaks to reporters during a scrum. |
“Everyone who is there is obviously a good hockey player, so
I am trying to take a little bit from everybody.”
Fiala is one of four overage players the Blades have on their
roster including centre Cameron Hebig, Shmyr and goaltender Logan Flodell. WHL
clubs have to cut down to three overage players on Oct. 10.
The Blades, who have a 3-2 record in the pre-season, close
their exhibition schedule on Saturday, when they travel to Edmonton to take on
the Oil Kings. They open their regular season schedule on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at
the SaskTel Centre against the Swift Current Broncos. The Blades plan to
celebrate their return to their Pac-Man look at their home opener.
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