Hyman gets the call
By Andrew Schopp – Hitmenhockey.com (@Azschopp)
Aaron Hyman didn’t have much time to lament his Midget-AAA Calgary Flames’ early exit from the 2014-2015 Alberta Midget Hockey League playoffs.
Just days after the Flames were ousted from the first round by the UFA Bisons, the 6’5”, 217-pound defenceman got the call from Calgary Hitmen GM Mike Moore to join the team`s roster for the remainder of the season.
Whether he plays or not, Hyman is simply happy to climb up to the major-junior level and soak in all that yet another stint with the Hitmen has to offer.
“It’s a pretty rare opportunity for a guy like me to step into an organization like this,” Hyman said. “I’ve been given the opportunity to practice with these high-calibre players and I am really thankful.”
Hyman’s call-up from the Midget-AAA ranks comes in the wake of an injury to budding 16-year-old defenceman Jake Bean, who will be out of the lineup for two to four weeks with an upper-body ailment sustained against the Kelowna Rockets on Feb. 28.
The Calgary product already has four games with the Hitmen this season under his belt and associate coach Brent Kisio, who runs the team’s defensive unit, said just simply having the 16-year-old blueliner around to get some WHL experience will be nothing but beneficial to his development.
“He’s a big strong defenceman who we think is going to be a very good fit for our program,” Kisio said. “He’s here right now to integrate himself into our culture. He’s a big part of our future moving forward and we think that by being around our team he can be a good asset and if some guys go down he’s gonna play for us.”
Plucked by the Hitmen in the third round – 49th overall – in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft, Hyman tallied five goals and six assists for the Flames this season before they fell 2-0 in their best-of-three series with the Bisons.
Describing himself as a strong skater who uses his long reach to his advantage, Hyman played a leadership role in the Midget-AAA ranks and he’s looking to bring what he has learned as a AMHL veteran back to the Hitmen fold.
“I was looked to as a leader on my team and it was a good experience to be able to lead the guys and get better each day,” he said. “Being looked to as a leader, guys are always looking to you for advice and stuff like that so it`s good to step in to that role and show the guys the ropes like they would here with me.”
According to Kisio, a team’s depth is of the utmost importance come playoff time, which is just around the corner.
With Bean’s injury forcing the Hitmen to dip into their prospect pool, the team’s contingent of young defencemen like Hyman and 17-year-old blueliner Loch Morrison will have a chance to shine with an increased role.
“Anytime in the playoffs, depth plays a role,” Kisio explained. “The deeper teams have success and luckily for us we are a deep team this year. Aaron only adds to that and moving forward and there’s a good chance we’ll need him at some point.”
“I’m here to learn, if I don’t get to play that’s alright,” Hyman added. “My time will come.”
More on Calgary Hitmen prospects:
Hitmen prospects at the 2014 Mac’s Midget-AAA Hockey Tournament
