'It's A Big Day For My Family'

Defenceman Ilya Solovyov was beaming from ear to ear when he met the media following Flames morning skate.

And for good reason.

The 23-year-old earned his first NHL call-up Thursday morning, ahead of Calgary's matchup against the St. Louis Blues at Scotiabank Saddledome. Get tickets

"I’m a little bit worried like ‘here’s a lot of guys trying to make reviews,’” he said, peering at the media hovering around him at one end of the Flames dressing room.

“It’s my first time.”

Solovyov earned an extended stay with the big club during training camp. In fact, he was one of the last cuts as Calgary trimmed its roster to the requisite 23 players earlier this month.

Since re-joining the Calgary Wranglers, the Belarusian blueliner has helped the AHL squad start the new season with a 3-0-1 record, chipping in with a goal and an assist in the process.

By Solovyov’s side on this North American journey, his wife, who he admits shed some tears when he told her about his call-up Wednesday.

She just (waited) like five seconds and (couldn’t) believe that it happened,” he said. “She stayed with me here two years, we waited a lot.

“It’s a big day for my family.”

Solovyov is in his third pro season in the Flames organization since being selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Draft, with his time on this side of the Atlantic Ocean featuring stops in Saginaw, Mich., Stockton, Calif. and Calgary along the way.

If his name is called for tonight’s contest with the Blues, he says he’ll have a few familiar faces cheering him on in the ‘Dome.

“My wife’s mom and brother (arrived in Calgary) three days ago,” he said, “I scored my first goal (of the season) in the AHL and got called up in the NHL, it’s pretty good.”

Amid the whirlwind of an NHL game day, Solovyov shared his lighter side in his media session, too, sending those assembled into a fit of laughter in describing how he shared news of his promotion with his father.

I told him ‘yeah Dad, I got called up (to) the NHL,’” Solovyov said.

“He said ‘all right. That’s good. Good news.’”

It’s that straight-to-the-point attitude that will serve Solovyov well, if and when he draws into the Flames lineup.

He figures he’ll have the most success by keeping things simple on the ice.

”Play well, play for our team,” said Solovyov. “All my coaches and especially my dad, they (told) me the logo on the chest (is more important) than the last name on the jersey.

“(Flames assistant coach Dan) Lambert said just play the way you do in the AHL. Simple, fast, quicker, shoot the puck, block shots, stay in front, it’s pretty similar.”

Flames Head Coach Ryan Huska called Solovyov’s energy “infectious” Thursday, noting that the excitement surrounding a player’s first NHL call-up brings about a sense of accomplishment that spreads throughout the dressing room.

“It's exciting for him,” Huska said following morning skate. “Any time a guy plays his first game, everybody's happy and emotional for the guy. It's a great thing.

“What I like about it is that he's kind of worked his game the last number of years to the point where he's a legitimate defenceman now that's a bigger guy that's harder to play against and he's a strong man.

“But the best part about him is how his teammates talk about him and seeing him in the dressing room this morning, you love to see the smile on his face. It's special for him.”

Whether that rookie lap comes tonight, or somewhere down the road, Solovyov is ready to soak it all in.

“It’s a super moment, I just want to enjoy it.”