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Brent Krahn looks for a team to lead
Written by: Aaron Vickers on 09/18/2004 
The Oilers and Flames tangled for what could possibly be the only time this season with prospects, rookies and hopefuls suiting up for both squads. While the Edmonton Oilers squad boasted a pair of 2004 first round selections in Devan Dubnyk and Robbie Schremp, it was a modest Flames line-up that lunchpailed their way, in typical Calgary fashion, to the win.
After falling behind 3-0 after one period, the Calgary Flames could bring the score no closer then 4-1 when it was time for Calgary's ninth overall selection in 2000, and only one of three professionals the Flames had suited up, to go to work.
As part of a planned goaltending change, the Calgary Flames substituted Brent Krahn for starting goaltender Davis Parley at 10:34 of the second period. The native of Winkler, Manitoba knew he had his work cut out for him as he stepped on the ice.
"In the first, the guys were really sitting back on their heels," explained Krahn of his club's lackluster start. "We gave up a lot of shots and Parley had to do a lot of work, and he did a great job for us. He kept it close. The game could've really gotten out of hand if he wasn't there for us."
While the Flames came out stronger in the second frame, it wasn't until Krahn stood between the pipes that an aura of confidence began to swarm the Flames.
After Moose Jaw Warrior forward Dustin Boyd had scored moments before Krahn's arrival to the ice, the Flames, and Boyd in particular, exploded. In fact, Boyd, the games first star, added to his goal by notching another two marks, scoring on a five-hole breakaway goal and adding a goal on a turnover in front of the Oiler net 22 seconds later to complete his natural hat trick.
With the help of Boyd's hat trick and singles from Cam Cunning and Jamie Tardif the Flames rookies pulled the wool over the Oilers rookies eyes. It was not without the help of Krahn that the Flames battled back from a 4-0 deficeit. Always one to pass on the credit, the former Calgary Hitmen goaltender was quick to spread the acclaim with his fellow teammates.
"Once the halfway point came in, I mean, I thought we showed a lot of guts and a lot of character the way we battled back," recounted Krahn. "It was tough to see pucks tonight, but the defense did a great job in front of me clearing rebounds, with good communication back there."
"I think as the game wore on the guys got better, but the more intense you play, it brings out the best in people, it shows what your character is all about and shows the type of person you are," Krahn told Hockey's Future after the game. "To show up and play a game like this and beat (the Oilers) 5-4 its a big character win and shows a lot about the guys in this dressing room and how hard they work."
"They really made my job a lot easier." added the Flame.
Although Krahn was quick to credit the victory as a team effort, his 18 saves on 18 shots certainly played a role. Although completely shutting out the Oilers, who finished with 49 shots on the evening, Krahn was more interested in talking about beating the Edmonton Oilers then his absence in the game's three stars, named by the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson.
"Any time you can beat the Edmonton Oilers," paused Krahn with a huge grin on his face, "there's a big rivalry here, you know, and I'm sure they feel the same way over in that dressing room. It's a great rivalry to watch and an even better one to play in, and it's an honor to be a part of this."
Honors are nothing new for Brent Krahn, whose head perked and eyes become alive with the mention of the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs, something that he was lucky enough to be a part of for the Calgary Flames. Krahn served as the Flames third-string goaltender for the playoffs, and despite not dressing for the 'second season', the experience alone is something he won't soon forget.
Krahn wasn't just along for the ride, however, as the Flames managed to accomplish becoming the first Canadian team in the Stanley Cup Finals since the Vancouver Canucks fell to the New York Rangers in 1994. The Flames, hoping that the experience would help Krahn, were successful in that aspect.
"You soak up so much," said Krahn, who practiced with the club every day. "I mean, you look at a guy like Miikka Kiprusoff who was just so composed and so relaxed and plays such a simple, great game. The team has a lot of confidence in him, and Roman (Turek) and to see how the team just communicates and how they work together, it's a team working there."
If the goal for the Calgary Flames was to light a fire underneath their top goaltending prospect, the mission has been accomplished. He has some lofty plans for next season.
"(I want) to go out there and lead a team to a championship," expressed Krahn. "It's something I really want to add to my repertoire, to go out there and be known as a winning goaltender, and that's what I want to go out there and prove this season."
Where Krahn will do this, though, is an interesting question.
The Calgary Flames share an American Hockey League affiliate, the Lowell Lock Monsters, with the Carolina Hurricanes. With the Hurricanes set to contribute former Red Deer Rebels goaltender Cam Ward, that leaves one spot on the club for a plethora of Flames goaltending hopefuls, Krahn being one of them. Perhaps his stiffest competition will come with Calgary's freshest face, Sebastien Centomo, signed as an unrestricted free agent after the Toronto Maple Leafs failed to qualify him. Centomo spent last season with the St. John's Maple Leafs, playing in 39 games and registering a 13-17-4 record with a 3.15 goals against average and a .904 save percentage.
"You know, I can't control what signings go on or what happens," Krahn bluntly stated. "I just have to worry about myself and try to take a job. I mean, that's what I'm here for, to take a job. I've got to make an impression."
The fact that the Flames will be sharing an American Hockey League affiliate for the second straight season doesn't have Krahn's stomach in knots, though. In fact, it will come as no surprise to the 6'4 giant if he sees significant time in several different organizations, a similar fate as last season, when he skated for three different organizations. He played 14 games with the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers, and 7 more with the Lowell Lock Monsters before being loaned out to the San Antonio Rampage, the Florida Panthers affiliate, for another 14 games.
"Well, that's why my helmet is still white!" laughed Krahn when asked about his travels over the course of the 2003-04 hockey season. "I'm traveling around seeing so much of the United States and Canada and playing with a lot of different guys and learning a lot of different systems. I mean, it was really beneficial for me to do that. At times, you know, I won't lie, it was tough, but it brought out the character in me and you've got to work through stuff like that. There aren't any excuses."
But when asked directly if a split affiliation has bothered the goaltender, who has struggled to see regular minutes the last three seasons, the WHL graduate shrugged the thought of sharing the net off.
"I missed a couple of years because of my knee surgery," reminded Krahn. "Just to play is what I wanted. I didn't really care where I was playing as long as I was seeing rubber and feeling healthy. I mean, I started the season in the ECHL and then up to the AHL, and even ended my season up in the NHL. It's funny how it works if you just work hard and never give up!"
Copyright 2004 Hockey's Future. Do not duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
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