There is more than meets the eye when it comes to Calgary Flames center Mark
Jankowski. The Flames'; #77 is not the first 'Janko'; to don an NHL sweater nor
 will he be the last (or so it seems). His family ties to the sport have
spanned generations and have influenced his rise up the ranks.

On July 25, the Flames signed the 23-year-old to a two-year, $3.35 million deal
 which carries an annual cap hit of close to $1.675 million per season.
Jankowski was slotted in as a third-line center in his rookie season, pencilled
 in below Flames'; mainstay at center Sean Monahan (who has led the team in
goals in three of the last four seasons) and Mikael Backlund, who recently
captained Team Sweden to a gold medal at this year's IIHF World Championships.
How will Jankowski stand out this season?Calgary Flames Mark Jankowski directs
a puck passed Arizona Coyotes goalie Adin Hill (Candice Ward-USA TODAY
Sports)The Standout From Stanstead

Setting himself apart from the crowd has not been difficult for Jankowski in
his hockey career. In fact, he was on the Flames'; radar while he was still in
high school. Jankowski attended Stanstead College, an independent prep school
in eastern Quebec, from 2010-2012 and played four seasons of hockey there,
where he racked up 157 points in 117 regular season games for the Spartans. 

By mid-season in 2012, he was ranked no. 74 among North American skaters by NHL
 Central Scouting and his stock continued to rise throughout the season leading
 up to the NHL Entry Draft at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. He was
drafted by the Flames 21st overall in the first round, solidifying the Dundas,
Ontario native as the highest selected Canadian player drafted out of high
school.Mark Jankowski at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft (Lisa McRitchie/Kukla';s
Korner)

Impressive? Sure, but not surprising when you consider in whose footsteps he
followed to get there. A Jankowski Family Tradition

The Jankowski family has deep-seated roots in hockey and Mark is another
promising addition to their legacy. His younger brother, David, is en route
too. David recently signed an amateur tryout contract with the Flames and
attended their development camp this summer.

Their father, Len, spent four seasons playing hockey at Cornell University
(1978-1982), while their uncle, Ryan Jankowski, is the director of amateur
scouting for the Buffalo Sabres. Mark's grandfather, Lou, was a former NHLer,
splitting time between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks in the
mid-to-late 1950s. Lou also had ties to the City of Calgary. He called
'Cowtown'; home for a number of years and was a star with the Calgary
Stampeders of the Western Hockey League, playing five seasons from 1958-1963.
His best season was in 1960-61 when he set a league record, scoring 57 goals
and adding 42 assists in 69 games.

The most notable name in the Jankowski family tree is Mark's great-uncle, NHL
great, Red Kelly.

On this day in 1960: @DetroitRedWings trade 4-time Stanley Cup winner and
future @HockeyHallFame legend Red Kelly to @MapleLeafs in exchange for Marc
Reaume. Kelly helps lead Toronto to four Cups in the next 8 years. Red still
has most Cups of any man who never played for #Habs pic.twitter.com/PGatwdXCFg

- Dave Stubbs (@Dave_Stubbs) February 10, 2018

An NHL legend and Hall of Famer, Leonard "Red" Kelly, played for the Detroit
Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs between 1947-1967. In his illustrious career,
 Kelly recorded 1,316 points in 823 regular season games as a defenseman,
adding 92 points in 164 playoff games. Kelly is considered an untouchable, as a
 winner of eight Stanley Cups (four with the Leafs and four with the Red
Wings).

He won the Norris Trophy in 1954 as the league';s top defenseman, captured the
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy four times during his career and is remembered as one
 of the 'great gentlemen'; in the history of the sport. After he retired, he
became the first coach in the expansion Los Angeles Kings'; organization. Kelly
 was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.Finding Success as a Friar

After the 2012 draft, Mark opted to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for the
Providence Friars in Rhode Island. Alumni of the Friars hockey program also
include Flames goaltending prospect, Jon Gillies, as well as the club';s former
 president of hockey operations, Brian Burke.

Jankowski played in Providence for four seasons and distinguished himself in
2015-16, his final year. His 15 goals and 25 assists equalled the first
40-point season by a single player in over a decade. He was named a CCM Second
Team All-American in April of that year and a First Team East All-Star. He also
 took home the Robert Gaudreau Jr. Award (most goals in a season), the Michael
Boback Award (most assists), and the Gates Orlando Award (most points).Mark
Jankowski celebrates as a member of the Providence Friars. (Winslow Townson-USA
 TODAY Sports)

Following his time as a Friar, Jankowski spent parts of three seasons with the
Flames'; American Hockey League affiliate, the Stockton Heat (2015-2018). His
one true full season with the Heat came in 2015-16 when he appeared in 64
games, scoring 56 points (27 goals, 29 assists) in that span. He played in just
 six games last season before being called up to the Flames, where he remained
for the rest of the year.A Respectable Rookie-Year in Calgary

Jankowski appeared in 72 games in his rookie season for the Flames in 2017-18
and scored 17 goals, good for fifth among Flames forwards, and eight assists.
He was the anchor on the third line during the regular season, averaging 48.8%
in the face-off circle, while compiling 33 penalty minutes and a minus-7
rating.

He finished the season in style, scoring four goals in the final game when the
 Flames defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 7-1. It was a great way to cap off a
rookie campaign, and for Flames fans, it should be a positive precursor to his
sophomore season.

What to Expect in 2018-19

Looking ahead to this season, there are reasons to be optimistic about the
Flames. The addition of James Neal in the off-season provides an opportunity
for players to move into more flattering roles on the depth chart. For example,
 it affords Jankowski the opportunity to play regularly with a defensively
responsible veteran like Michael Frolik. Also, assuming Jankowski continues to
position his 6-foot-3 frame in front of the net on a consistent basis, he
should be capable of reaching the 20-goal mark this year. 

Jankowski will ideally continue to build chemistry with linemate Sam Bennett,
who will likely slot in as the third-line winger in Calgary';s lineup. Bennett
is entering his final year of a two-year bridge deal and has a lot to prove
this season. If the two can click, they will be another offensively rich unit
in the Flames'; arsenal in 2018-19.

The post Flames Jankowski: Family Hockey Roots Run Deep appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

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