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Scott lifts Calder Cup as member of Marlies

Jun 18, 2018 | 5:21 PM

Prince Albert Raiders goaltender Ian Scott is a Calder Cup champion.

The American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies defeated the Texas Stars in game seven of the Calder Cup final Thursday night, capturing the first professional hockey title for a Toronto team since the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1967.

Scott, who was selected by the Leafs in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, signed an amateur tryout agreement with the organization’s AHL affiliate shortly after the Raiders’ season came to an end. The Calgary native started one game at the end of the regular season, a 4-3 victory over Belleville, before serving as a third-string goalie throughout the playoff run, making one appearance on the bench as a backup.

Being a part of the championship run was something he could barely describe.

“Pretty surreal I’d say. Just such a great experience,” Scott said.

Working alongside starter Garrett Sparks and backup Calvin Pickard, who have a combined 104 NHL games of experience between them, the Raider backstopper said he was able to soak up what it takes to be successful at the highest levels of hockey. Scott expressed gratitude to the two veterans for welcoming him as part of their group and said watching them in practice and in games was a great demonstration of the work he will need to put in over the coming years to get to that point.

With a professional championship now on his resume, Scott said he’s looking forward to getting back to Prince Albert when camp opens in just over two months.

“I learned lots, and this experience will help me moving forward and help me take a leadership role when I come back to P.A. next year,” he said. “It was really helpful just seeing what it’s going to take [to win a championship] and the buy-in that everyone has to put in.”

One year removed from drafting Scott, the Maple Leafs have another year to sign him to an entry-level contract. The extended stay with the Marlies this spring gave the team a good opportunity to get to know him better, and he said the feedback was positive as the team held exit meetings Sunday.

“They’re expecting big things and they believe in me, so it’s just a matter of going out and doing it. They’re really happy with how I’ve developed over the time in Toronto and this past year, so it’s just a matter of keeping it going forward.”

As for the summer ahead, Scott said he’s planning to take time to relax after a long season before getting back into training. Before Raider camp opens, the goaltender said he hopes to be a part of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence goaltending camp, which he has attended during the last three offseasons.

 

trevor.redden@jpbg.ca 

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden