It has been over a month since he put a Colorado Avalanche jersey but it's an experience that High River's Conner Bleackey will never forget.

 

After not getting a real chance to show his stuff last year in the pre-season, Bleackley suited up for three exhibition games in the NHL, scoring goal and being able to play in arena where he's spent a lot of time in with the Red Deer Rebels and when he was younger when he played at the Saddledome against the Flames.

 

Bleackley says his experience in "The Show" is something he'll never forget.

 

"I was real fortunate to be able to play three exhibition games and managed to score a goal and got to play against some of the best in the NHL in (Drew) Doughty and (Anze) Kopitar, during that time," he says.

 

The High Riveritte says it was even better when he was able to be in the Avalanche's line-up when they were in Calgary, with his family and friends in attendance.

 

"Being able to play in Calgary, is something you dream as a kid, it is only exhibition but it's pretty special having all the family there and wear an NHL sweater and at the same time it just leaves you hungry for more and hopefully I can be back there."

 

He says part of the NHL experience was heightened by working with a player he looked up to in Calgary was suiting up on the same team as him.

 

"Pretty cool to be on the same ice surface as Jarome Iginla and just get a chance to talk to him, one on one was pretty cool but also guys like (Nathan) MacKinnon and (Matt) Duchene are probably some of the fastest guys in the league with their sticks and their feet so it was incredible to watch the speed that they play at and try to keep up with them."

 

Bleackley will be part of Team WHL next week when they face Team Russia in their Super Series Challenge, hoping to catch the eyes of the Team Canada brass and add to his stock for a shot at playing for Canada's Junior Team this Christmas.

 

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