Flames first-round pick Matthew Coronato settling in at Harvard

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The prized addition to the Calgary Flames’ prospect pipeline, Matthew Coronato isn’t at camp.

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Because he’s on campus at Harvard University.

Everybody is clamouring for their first glimpse of Coronato in the Flaming C logo, but NCAA rules forbid even a brief fling with a future employer once classes have resumed.

Besides, the 18-year-old right-winger — Calgary’s first-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft — is busy enough with both his stickhandling and his studies at the iconic Ivy League institution.

“It’s going really well so far,” Coronato reported from Cambridge, Mass. “We’ve started skating pretty much every day, so that’s been great, getting adjusted to that and getting comfortable with the guys and getting comfortable with the level of play. And I think academically, as well, it’s been a great transition. I didn’t do schoolwork or have any classes last year, so I’m kind of getting back into that.

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“It’s definitely hard work, but it’s good.”

Flames fans have done their homework on Coronato and are understandably excited.

After all, this kid was considered perhaps the best pure sniper in his draft class.

He piled up 57 goals and 98 points in 59 showings last winter with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, a tally that includes both regular-season and playoff outings. For comparison sake, Johnny Gaudreau scored 41 times and totalled 83 points in 71 combined appearances as a draft-eligible on that Junior-A circuit.

The next test for Coronato — not including any upcoming exams in his economics, writing or language courses at Harvard — is to prove his offence will translate to collegiate competition with the Crimson.

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“I think as you go up levels, time and space is the first thing that really goes away,” said Coronato, who shattered franchise scoring records with the Steel, helped his crew to a Clark Cup title last spring and was feted as the USHL’s Forward of the Year for 2020-21. “There’s less of it, so I think it’s all about being smart, getting to the right spots, being able to get pucks on and off your stick quick and seeing the next play kind of early and making it as fast as you can is what will lead to success as you keep going up.

“I’m just trying to improve on my quickness, skating-wise and mind-wise, thinking the game faster, making sure I’m in spots where I can receive pucks and get them off quick and make plays with my teammates.”

While Jakob Pelletier and Connor Zary were among the headliners during rookie camp at the Saddledome, Coronato is now Calgary’s most intriguing offensive up-and-comer. (Zary, by the way, is officially listed as day-to-day after suffering an apparent ankle/foot injury while blocking a shot in Monday’s 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers’ hopefuls. The 19-year-old centre was a no-go for Tuesday’s final prospect practice.)

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Coronato isn’t likely to scare anybody with his 5-foot-11, 183-lb. frame, but that won’t matter as long as the stocky sharpshooter from Greenlawn, N.Y., continues to terrify netminders with his wicked wrister and sneaky setup skills.

Anytime the freshman forward lights the lamp for Harvard, the highlight will be click-bait in Calgary, too. Don’t be worried that you haven’t seen any clips just yet — the Crimson don’t open their Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) campaign until late October.

“It doesn’t really seem like much of a wait right now — we’re getting right into it,” Coronato said. “We’re working out three days a week. We’re skating every weekday. So we’re already getting better. We’re getting ready. I think I’m learning the way that Harvard likes to play and the things they like to do, so every day is about getting better and just getting prepared.

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“As my hockey career goes on, it’s going to be about getting to the next level and keep doing that and keep getting adjusted,” he added. “Right now, at this level, it’s definitely a step up from where I was last year so it’s just getting comfortable in practice, and I think I’ve already started to do that. Once games start, there are a lot of other great players here, so definitely finding chemistry with them and getting comfortable with them and just help the team in any way I can.”

While his ETA in the professional ranks is uncertain, always the case with those who go the NCAA route, the staff at the Saddledome figure Coronato will eventually be a big help in Calgary.

That’s why they were thrilled to call his name at No. 13 overall. That’s why alternate captain Mikael Backlund was quick to fire off a welcome-to-the-organization text to the Harvard-bound marksman.

“I think the main point I’ve heard is just continuing to develop, get stronger, get faster and adjust at the next level and just continue to be confident in myself,” Coronato said. “For me, being confident in my play and my ability to go out and do things on the ice is really important, so I think continuing to develop and add strength and just be confident in my play were the biggest things.”

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

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