“A kid with a clean personality”: Pachal has proven to fit in well with the Flames

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Manny Viveiros listened to several text messages shortly after hearing the news that Brayden Pachal had been withdrawn from the NHL by the Calgary Flames.

The first is to Pachal, who has coached the minors for the past three seasons.

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“I just said, 'I'm so happy for you. Now you have the opportunity to be where you belong — in the National Hockey League,” shared Viveiros. “To be able to be more consistent, I think it makes a big difference to him.”

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The other is to Flames assistant coach Dan Lambert, who leads Calgary's blue-collar squad.

“I know Dan and I told him, 'You've got a good kid, a really good kid. He gives you everything he has,” Viveiros said.

Now four games into his Flames career, Pachal has certainly made a positive impression. The 24-year-old helped his new crew to a 3-1 record, although they ended their trip with a loss in the Big Apple on Monday. Asked for an early evaluation, coach Ryan Huska described it as a “breath of fresh air.”

Indeed, this rugged right-hander from Estevan, Sask., delivered as advertised, providing an immediate physical presence. He already has 10 shots and 10 penalties. His steady, no-holds-barred style allowed defensive partner Oliver Kylington to be more active in the rush.

Since claiming waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights and trying to join the Flames in Boston, Pachal has been on the ice against just one goal in 51 minutes of even-strength action. On the enemy court, the home coach usually hits his stars every time the bottom pair of blueliners jumps the boards, which is an encouraging sign.

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“He's taken advantage of every opportunity as a player and I think they'll appreciate him in Calgary,” predicted Curtis Hunt, Pachal's general manager during his time with the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders. “Good field boy. Works hard. And only a quality person. A smile on his face every day. He loves the game and he loves to compete and he loves to play such a tough, tough game.”

That seems to be the consensus of Pachal's previous stops.

Hunt called the unguarded quarterback a “pure character kid.”

Viveiros, now an assistant manager with the Vancouver Giants in the WHL, added: “Brayden is one of my favorite players I've coached over the years and has been a very good player.”

More important than the flashy reference, they both had the letter “C” stitched into his sweater.

You don't often see a 22-year-old captain in the AHL, but Viveiros believes Pachal is ready for the role with the Henderson Silver Knights in January 2022, midway through his third professional campaign.

“We went up and down our ranks and who exemplified our group, our identity, the culture we wanted to establish and it was an easy choice for us,” explained Viveiros. “He was a guy that you knew was going to be one of your hardest workers in practice and you knew you were going to get the same from him every day. He never took a day off. To me, that's what you want your captain to be, especially for a young team in the American Hockey League.

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“Give me an example … This is something Brayden does every day.”

One of the perks of being a captain in Prince Albert is when the Raiders won the league crown in 2019, the first time Pachal left his fingerprints on the Ed Chynoweth Cup. (one playoff appearance with the Golden Knights last spring).

“He was the glue for us,” Hunt said, recalling Pachal's impact on a squad that won WHL glory and a trip to the Memorial Cup. “He brought us together and kept us humble and kept us on track. It's just, “Grab your hat, your work boots, your lunch box and your worker's mentality, let's get out there and get down to business.” This is what he did for us.

“As captain, he had a way of holding the players accountable, but doing it with humility and respect to avoid rancour and defensiveness. You know, he backed it up with his game. He was a real good raider for us.”

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He is now in Sin City with the Flames, hoping to find long-term fitness after suffering frequent health problems in the first half of this season.

Pachal, wearing No. 94 on his back, will officially introduce himself to the Saddledome crowd on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks (7 p.m. MT, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

“He's going to compete every night,” Hunt promised.

“It's very difficult to play against him,” Viveiros said. “From the blue line, he makes it difficult for opposing forwards to get around the net. He blocks shots. He does everything he can to help his team. He's just the greatest teammate.”

Ice chips: With four visitors in a row on the road, center Cole Schwindt was reassigned to the AHL's Calgary Wranglers on Tuesday.

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