Calvin Pickard, the second round draft choice of the Colorado Avalanche (49th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, made his professional debut late in the 2011-12 season, and will embark on his first professional season this fall. The Avalanche signed the young goaltender to an entry-level NHL contract on March 24, 2011; a three-year deal.

Pickard’s first taste of professional action came in a relief appearance on March 31, 2012; a game in which he stopped all eight shots sent his way before the Monsters ultimately fell by a 4-0 score. The following night, Pickard made his first professional start, and earned his first professional victory in the process. He turned aside 25 of 29 shots, and was the beneficiary of the Monsters setting a new franchise record with eight goals scored in the 8-4 win against Texas.

A product of the Western Hockey League’s Seattle Thunderbirds, Pickard is no stranger to carrying a heavy workload in net. During each of his four major junior seasons, Pickard appeared in at least 47 games, and played in 62 or more during his final three seasons. When all was said and done, Pickard left the Thunderbirds as the Western Hockey League’s all-time record holder in saves- 7,027 in four seasons- and minutes played with 14,025. His career junior record is below .500, but don’t be fooled; nearly 8,000 saves and a .909 save percentage are solid marks for the two-time WHL Western Conference all-star selection.