FlamesNation chats with Jon Gillies

 

 

A product of the Indiana Ice of the USHL, Maine native Jon Gillies brings a strong body of work to the Calgary Flames after being chosen in the third round of the 2012 Entry Draft. He’s also got a very, very large body – he stands 6-5 and weighs over 200 pounds. FlamesNation’s Ryan Pike chatted with Gillies in-between sessions at the Flames’ annual development camp.

Ryan Pike: Did you know much about the Calgary Flames prior to being drafted by them?

Jon Gillies: Not really. I only really knew Miikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla, because everyone knows them. Other than that, I just knew they were in Western Canada. It’s nice to come up here and learn a lot more about it.

RP: Is it intimidating coming to such a hockey-crazy market?

JG: It’s pretty cool. It’s a hockey-first country and that’s the way it should be. When you watch TSN and stuff, hockey comes on first. I’ve always loved it up here. It was nice. It’s cool.

RP: How are you preparing for next season?

JG: Just working out, mostly. My biggest weakness right now is my physical strength in my legs and stuff like that, so I’ve just been working out four days a week, going as hard as I can. It’s showing off a little bit here, I’ve noticed it on the ice, and keep going forward.

RP: Have you chatted with any of the veteran NCAA goalies at the camp?

JG: Not too much. It’s more just watching the players. You watch Johnny Gaudreau go around and the kid’s just unbelievable. It’s more just getting accustomed to guys like that, seeing all the calibre players that play in the NCAA, but as far as talking to goalies, not too much.

RP: You must like getting a bit of a head-start on Gaudreau for next season, eh?

JG: [Laughs] There’s no head-start on that kid. You go one way, he shoots the other. It’s truly phenomenal. He’s so fun to watch. I don’t want to play against him. [Laughs]

RP: Do you have any goals for your first year with Providence College?

JG: Just a good first season and just be consistent, mostly. Don’t get too up or too down during the season. It’s a short season, so you need to be going at all times. I want to be playing as hard as I can for as long as I can and give my team the best chance to win every night.