Brodie 4th round pick of Calgary Flames

SAGINAW -- Article Written by
Tom Fagan
University of Wisconsin Student
Saginaw Spirit Intern

Growing up in Dresden, Ontario, it wasn’t hard for T.J. Brodie to decide which NHL team he would follow.  With two of the NHL players he admired most being Steve Yzerman and Nic Lidstom, Brodie watched the Red Wings win back-to-back Stanley Cups as a little kid.  Despite members of his family being fans of several different teams, Brodie would cheer for the Wings. 

When Brodie was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round of this year’s NHL entry draft, however, there were no family feuds or disappointments over the team that was drafting him.  As a native Canadian, Brodie and his family were thrilled at the prospect of him someday playing pro hockey in Canada, as well as the opportunity to play in front of some of his family.

“It’s good to be staying in Canada.  I have family [in Calgary] -- my Aunt and Uncle live out there.  I think they are pretty excited and happy about it.  It’s a really good organization with some really good fans.”

Although Brodie has reached a crucial step on the road to the NHL, the 18-year old defenseman knows he still has a lot of work cut out for him.

“I have to work hard.  I’m looking forward to getting an opportunity to play for their farm team, and hopefully eventually for [Calgary].”

The next team Brodie hopes to play for is Calgary’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Quad-City Flames, located on the Mississippi River on the border between Iowa and Illinois.  The American Hockey League is the feeder league to the NHL, with players being only one promotion away from the main club.

Saginaw Spirit general manager Don Edwards believes that Brodie might not be far away from making these steps to reach the NHL level, and that his style of play may benefit him as he works toward earning a roster spot on the Flames.

"T.J. fits in well with the Flames' free flowing and fast passing style of play.  He has great speed and ability that will enable him to compete for a spot on their team sometime in the future."

When asked about who has helped him develop as a hockey player, Brodie is quick to credit many of those around him.  Without his coaches, he says, he never could have advanced nearly as far as he has.  He says that as he got older and played with increasingly better teams, there was a huge amount he could learn from his fellow players.  His family, who often travels from Dresden to Saginaw to attend Spirit home games, has also been tremendously supportive of T.J. as he has risen in the hockey ranks. 

Brodie looks to continue learning from his fellow players and coaches as he continues to play the sport that he loves.  Although he started playing hockey simply because it was something he enjoyed to do, Brodie now realizes that he may be one of the lucky few people that millions of young Canadian hockey players aspire to be.

“I’m just going to work hard and try to make a career out of this, you know?”