With the ICE going under new management this year and with the amount of young talent in the system, Fleury was aware that his being traded was likely in the cards, despite wearing the “C” on his sweater . “I was surprised at how early it was in the season. I knew Regina was a team that wanted to get me so it was not shocking that I was traded. I knew my team in Kootenay’s situation with rebuilding around their good depth-they are not really built to win now,” Fleury said.
Fleury knew full well that he was not being traded to just any team. He was being acquired by a team that is hosting the 2018 Memorial Cup. “It should be awesome. I got the chance to watch my brother play in it two year ago and saw what that was all about. The atmosphere in there was pretty crazy. It will be great in Regina too.”
His brother Haydn was a key member of the Red Deer Rebels team who hosted in 2016 and fell short in the semi-final. The brothers are close and Cale knows that when it gets closer to May, Haydn is someone who he can lean on for advice. “I talked to him a couple times since the trade. Not really specifically about the Memorial Cup yet, but I’m sure he will let me know soon.”
Fleury goes from being the main guy on Kootenay’s blue line to being able to lean on another NHL-drafted d-man in Anaheim Ducks signed prospect Josh Mahura. He is excited to be around so many talented players. “It’s awesome, you kind of pick up things from them. Like Josh and the other drafted guys, you just see what they do. Habits on the ice and off the ice and emulate them a little in my game.”
Speicially, on the power play, the Pats have a deadly combination of talented players. Fleury appreciates that he can have some of the defense’s attention drawn away from his hard shot. “With that unit, we can have four one-timers at a time if we wanted with Sammy (Steel), Nick Henry out there too. I just think that it’s great that teams can’t really sit in the lane on me too much.”
The timing of the trade was pretty fortunate for Fleury, as Regina was about to undertake the longest road trip of their season. While the trip was not too successful, Fleury got the opportunity to get to know his teammates better. “There’s not really much of a better way to get to know they guys then on a long road trip-to be on the bus for 20 hours.”
Fleury was taken in last June’s NHL draft by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round, 87th overall. He got to experience his fist NHL camp this year and was given a list of things to work on by the coaches there. “They said I need to work on my positioning in the d-zone and my foot speed a bit. Defensively and my transition skating. Taking guys off the rush on three-on-twos and two-on-ones-things like that.”
Fleury will get plenty of opportunities to work on these areas with his team locked into playing in May. Regina bringing him in was the first big splash, but as we draw nearer to January’s trade deadline date, there are sure to be many more. Regina will certainly be looking to add more, but the acquisition of Fleury is a fine start.
