Even his idol was impressed.
When Calgary Flames forward call-up Rory Kerins has an opportunity to reflect on what has been a whirlwind week, a congratulatory text message from his childhood hockey hero Sean Monahan will be one of the treasured memories.
“Easy league,” Monahan wrote after Kerins notched an assist Monday on his first NHL shift. “Proud of you.”
Monahan was recently named to the Flames Quarter-Century Team and the 30-year-old centre remains a fan favourite in Calgary despite the fact that he hasn’t skated for the squad since 2021-22.
That congratulatory note to Kerins — capped with a fist-bump emoji and shared by the Flames on social media — will only add to the adoration.
The C of Red undoubtedly is rooting for ‘Mony,’ to lead the surging Columbus Blue Jackets to a playoff berth in a season that has been dedicated to the memory of the late Johnny Gaudreau.
“I played with Rory’s older brother, Liam, for I don’t know how many years it was, but it felt like forever,” Monahan told Postmedia from Columbus, where he has racked up 41 points in 41 games this season but is currently sidelined by a sprained wrist. “Scott, his dad, did a lot for me. Growing up, he was my coach for a long time. I shot thousands of pucks in their basement and a lot of time on the outdoor rink, and Rory was always around and just a really good kid.
“They’re a great hockey family and great all-around family.”
That hockey family hustled from Caledon, Ont., to Chicago on Monday to witness Rory’s dream debut, which featured a pair of assists in the opening period against the Blackhawks.
Monahan, meanwhile, was watching from two states over in Ohio.
He earlier had spotted a quote from Flames bench boss Ryan Huska, indicating that the 22-year-old Kerins would be given every opportunity to show off the offensive touch that made him the AHL’s top scorer this fall.
“I was reading something Husk said, that he was going to get a chance and they were going to put him in a position not to check, but to be himself,” Monahan said. “So I saw that, and I tuned into the game. First shift, when he got that assist, I texted him right away and congratulated him.
“He has a lot of skill. I remember when he got drafted to Calgary, I was talking to him and super excited for him. That’s obviously a big accomplishment, to play your first game and get two points. That’s a great start.”
After being drafted as a sixth-round longshot in 2020, Kerins shared a picture of himself in a Flames jersey as a youngster. There was, not surprisingly, Monahan’s No. 23 visible on the arms.
Late last week, after he was recalled from the Wranglers, he was reminiscing about wearing that same sweater to a matchup between the Maple Leafs and Flames in Toronto.
It’s worth noting Monahan also made an immediate impact in his NHL debut in Oct. 2013. He had an assist on his second career shift with David Jones providing the finish.
“Sean has always been my favourite player, since I was probably eight years old,” Kerins told Sportsnet’s Ryan Leslie during an interview that aired on Tuesday’s broadcast. “My dad always told me to watch him and how he plays when he was in Ottawa (of the OHL) and when he was playing with my brother. I always kept tabs on him and he always kept in touch with me, as well, which is really nice of him.
“He told me, ‘Easy league,’ and that he was proud of me. I know the league’s not that easy, but it was awesome to hear from him. It was really cool.”
Proof it’s anything but an easy league, Kerins was held off the scoresheet in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center.
The rookie forward is, however, still a point-per-game player as he prepares for Thursday’s rematch in St. Louis.
Pretty darn good.
“I’m just proud of him,” Monahan said. “He’s come a long way, for sure. To play in the NHL and produce, it’s pretty special.”