With a Stanley Cup on his resume and having played for two NHL teams already at 24, Brayden Pachal is living out the perfect hockey life.
He was recently claimed off waivers and has made his way to the Calgary Flames. While he says the move from the Vegas Golden Knights was bittersweet, the new team has welcomed him with open arms.
"I think I've fit in really well so far. You know, when I first got here, there was a lot of new faces with guys getting called up that I've played against in the American League, the trades they made before the break, and obviously myself getting claimed. The adjustments been great. Everybody in the organization has treated me amazing. They seem like they're excited to see what I can do, so I'm excited to show them what I can do."
While he's making moves in the big leagues, his roots run deep in the Southeast. Pachal first played with the Estevan Bruins back in the 2014-2015 season. After helping the Prince Albert Raiders win the WHL championship in 2019, it was clear he's got a path to the NHL. Pachal soon packed his bags and played with the Vegas Golden Knights starting in 2022. With the amount of traveling he's done in the hockey world, he's never forgotten his hometown - Estevan.
"There's a lot of ties back home. I just want to represent and show that, being from a small town [like] Estevan, if you work hard and you truly dedicate yourself to something, you can do wonders."
One of his crowning achievements was bringing the Stanley Cup to the city last year. He revealed that his name was almost left off the trophy itself, but the Golden Knights organization was able to pull some strings to make it happen.
"I couldn't be more grateful to the Golden Knights Organization for allowing that for myself and my family. That means absolute, absolute world. It's something that I know myself, my family and friends, and the community I spent as well will remember forever," Pachal expressed.
Many fans will remember his scrappy and physical game on the ice. To Pachal, as the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Although, he says that a lot of his tactics are more calculated now being in the NHL versus being in the junior leagues.
"The best way to get better in pro hockey is experience, and that doesn't change for me at this level. Every game that you play is another game under your belt and other games feel more comfortable in and seeing different scenarios and play against different players and different systems. It's an adjustment period and I just want to show that I can play in this league and help the Flames organization."
Being a part of the Flames come a possible Battle of Alberta matchup and a meeting with Connor McDavid.
"It's something that you watch on TV growing up and the rivalry is just massive! I'm excited to get to that. On the agenda is hopefully not get caught by Connor McDavid on the ice. He's pretty special. I haven't played against him yet and if I'm able to play against him, it'll be cool to watch him out there."
While he's already got a Stanley Cup as a Golden Knight, he hopes to earn another one with the Calgary Flames in the future.
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