You probably don’t recognize his name, but right-winger Garnet Hathaway is the sort of blood-and-guts guy who could eventually become a fan favourite at the Saddledome.

And don’t just take it from us.

“He’s a hard-nosed guy. To me, there’s some Lance Bouma qualities in him,” said Flames GM Brad Treliving of Hathaway, a 23-year-old wrecking ball who has been stationed this winter at AHL Adirondack and was rewarded Monday with a two-year, two-way deal.

“He’s an absolute fearless competitor, an unbelievable team person, high, high character, and he’s been able to chip in with some goals.

“We’re excited to get him on board.”

The feeling is mutual.

Hathaway’s two-year contract with the Flames doesn’t kick in until next season, which means he isn’t even a longshot option for the upcoming playoff push, but that didn’t dampen his enthusiasm as he scribbled his signature on the entry-level deal and returned the paperwork to Calgary.

“You’re reading through it, and it kind of hits you,” Hathaway said.

“You can’t really explain the feeling. You want the signature to be perfect, but you’re hand is kind of shaking when you’re doing it.

“It was unbelievable. It really is a dream come true. It’s my dream to play in the NHL, and that’s one step closer for me.”

Hathaway skated for the NCAA’s Brown University Bears for four seasons before joining the Flames’ farm club last spring on a tryout basis.

The 6-foot-2, 210-lb. forward continued to impress at summer development camp and at the Young Stars Classic in Penticton.

He really caught the attention of the Saddledome brass with his testing results at training camp, trailing only captain Mark Giordano as the fittest guy in the Flames organization.

In his first full season of professional puck, Hathaway has 19 tallies, 36 points and 77 penalty minutes in 72 outings in Adirondack.

It’s worth noting that Bouma had a dozen goals, 20 points and 57 penalty minutes in 61 skates in his first minor-league campaign, although he was a couple years younger than Hathaway is now.

“I think going to main camp, that was a huge step for me, and realizing how close it actually is,” Hathaway said.

“Those guys who play every game in the NHL, being that close and being on the same ice with them, you really see what it takes to be there. Putting that in perspective, I think that helped me a lot.

“I wanted to sign an NHL contract right out of college, and Calgary gave me an opportunity with an AHL contract.

“I knew to get closer and get called up, I needed to earn another contract. I played my hardest and I guess I earned it, and that means a lot.

“That gives me more energy to keep going and pushing for more.”

wes.gilbertson@sunmedia.ca

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