The day after watching the Calgary Flames win the Battle of Alberta as a healthy scratch, defenceman Brendan Mikkelson was sent to the minors for a conditioning assignment.
The last game for the St. Albert product was Dec. 1 against the Vancouver Canucks.
“I’ve been out for awhile, which is awfully frustrating given that I felt I was playing well and doing a lot of good things but obviously I didn’t do enough good things,” Mikkelson told the Gazette while sitting in the press box during Calgary’s 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place.” It’s a little tough to swallow but at the same time you can’t be a negative guy and walk around pouting. I’ve tried to keep working hard and be a sponge and listen to the coaches and do everything I’m told and be a good cheerleader for the guys.”
In 15 games with Calgary after being claimed off waivers Oct. 19 from the Anaheim Ducks, Mikkelson picked up one assist and was minus-five before he was dispatched to the Abbotsford Heat in the American Hockey League.
“Calgary gave me an opportunity here and things started off great. I think I played 15 out of the first 18 or 19 games I was with the club,” said Mikkelson, who was minus-two during 22 shifts and 14:30 minutes of ice time in the 7-2 loss to Vancouver. “I was picked up when they were a little banged up. When those guys came back, and they’re awfully good players, I was put out of the line-up.”
Mikkelson, 23, was minus-one with one assist in five games with Anaheim while averaging 19:24 minutes before he was placed on waivers.
“I thought I had a pretty good start to the season there personally. The team didn’t but that obviously reflects on everyone.”
The former bantam AAA Sabre and midget AAA Raider took the transaction in stride.
“I feel I played well enough to stay but at the same time they felt they had to go in a different direction and that’s the way things go sometimes,” he said. “I took it as a fresh start to find my place as an everyday guy in the NHL. I haven’t been able to do that yet but I’m working on it.”
Anaheim drafted Mikkelson in the second round (31st overall) in 2005.
“I was with the club for a long time. I think it was six training camps, one season in the minors [Portland Pirates in 2007/08] and parts of two seasons being up and down [between Anaheim and the Iowa Chops in 2008/09 and Toronto Marlies last season].”
His longest stint in Anaheim was 34 games in 2008/09.
“I obviously didn’t cement myself in the line-up like I needed to so I’ve got to take some lessons from that and learn from it,” said the 2007 Memorial Cup winner with the Vancouver Giants and tournament all-star. “The biggest thing is knowing the things that I didn’t do to cement myself there and try and improve on it with my opportunity here with the Flames.”
In 67 games with Anaheim, the six-foot-three and 205-pound skater collected five assists and 31 penalty minutes.
“I have to thank them obviously a ton for drafting me and giving me my first opportunity to play in the NHL, but at the same time I never really felt that comfortable there as a player. There were many times I felt very, very scared to make mistakes. I was constantly on pins and needles from the stress I felt from the uncertainly and the fear of making mistakes and being demoted in minutes and being demoted out of the line-up and being demoted to the minors, so that part was a little negative.”
En route to a pro career, Mikkelson broke into the WHL with the 2003/04 Portland Winter Hawks and played for Team Pacific at the U17 worlds and Team Canada at the U18 worlds. He also attended the national team’s summer evaluation camps two years in a row and attended the 2006 world junior selection camp.
Mikkelson made his NHL debut on Jan. 2, 2009 against the Philadelphia Flyers. In 13:39 minutes he was minus-two with one hit and one shot on net against Martin Biron in the 5-4 shootout loss in Anaheim.
After 82 games Mikkelson is still shooting for his first NHL goal.
“It’s been quite the ride.”
Mikkelson’s biggest thrill last year was watching his sister Meaghan, a forward-turned-defenceman, win gold with Team Canada at the Olympic Games.
“That made the disappointment of getting sent down last year [to the Marlies] just completely go away,” he said. “Just seeing her first being able to make the team, which in itself is an unbelievable accomplishment, and then being able to win the gold in Vancouver the way they did, you’ve got to be excited for her and proud of her for the hard work she put in. She deserved it.”
