Two days after getting called up from the AHL, Marysville product Carter Bancks will made his NHL debut with the Calgary Flames in Nashville against the Predators on Tuesday night.
Bancks, 23, has been playing with the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL for the last three seasons, but Calgary’s farm squad has played out their year and missed the post season.
“I’m really excited. A little nervous for sure, but a lot of excitement,” said Bancks, in an pregame interview with FlamesTV. “It’s been a journey to get here and I’m just going to try to embrace it and have as much fun as I can tonight.”
Bancks, along with six other Heat teammates, were called up on April 21st, as the Flames have been looking at some of their younger players and prospects in preparation for next season because the club is outside of the NHL playoff picture.
Bancks joins former Kootenay Ice sniper Max Reinhart, who has been with the team for the last three weeks and is making an impression with a goal and two assists in nine games.
“Obviously, getting the chance to play at this level is what every little boy dreams of, and getting to watch it on TV growing up, you see how fast it is, how strong it is—it’s just going to be a really good test,” added Bancks. “I’ve worked a long time for this and I just want to go out there and give it my best, I guess. It’s going to be fun.”
Prior to his professional career, Bancks played four seasons in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, but began his junior hockey career with the Kimberley Dynamiters of the KIJHL.
Hockey runs in his blood as his father, Jerry Bancks, is an assistant coach with the Kootenay Ice and works with the Alpine Hockey School in Kimberley.
It was a tough battle in Music City, but the Flames were doused by a close 4-3 loss at the end of three periods.
Bancks was able to log 12:33 in ice time, and also got some action on the penalty kill.