Defenceman Zloty excited to be back in Winnipeg with Moose

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This article was published 07/07/2024 (798 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s a case of déjà vu for Ben Zloty.

The Calgary native has spent a sizable chunk of his early hockey career in Winnipeg, playing four seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Ice (although one year was a bubble season when the WHL played in Regina).

Now the 22-year-old left-shooting defenceman is back in the all-too-familiar city. He signed a two-year contract with the Manitoba Moose on July 3, a day before he attended the Winnipeg Jets development camp which wrapped up Sunday at the Hockey For All Centre.

“It’s good to be back,” Zloty told the Free Press. “I’m excited, they got a good organization here (which) gives people a chance.”

Zloty played 207 contests with the Winnipeg Ice where he showed plenty of offensive upside in posting 189 points (26G, 163A).

“I’ve kind of grown up in the city,” said Zloty. “I know the city pretty well, there’s some great people here and I’m excited to come back here.”

Zloty turned pro last year, signing a one-year contract with the Texas Stars (American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars), although he spent the majority of last season in the ECHL with the Idaho Steelheads where he played 42 games and put up 23 points (7G, 16A). The 6-0 defenceman got in four games with Texas and hopes to further develop his career now on his second AHL contract.

“It’s a lot different than junior,” said Zloty on his experience south of the border. “You gotta get used to the speed and the physicality, but I think I learned a lot and I get to take here and just be ready for next year.”

Zloty describes himself as a good puck-moving defenceman who likes to jump on the rush and create offence, while also playing reliable defence in any situation.

“I definitely have some offensive instincts,” he said. “I’m trying to make it into a two-way game, you play both ends of the ice evenly. I’m trying to form my game into a two-way more.”

Growing up, Zloty looked up to Cam Fowler, the Canadian defenceman who has played 974 games with the Anaheim Ducks. Currently, Zloty says Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres is his favourite player in the NHL.

Graham Sward, a 20-year-old defenceman from Abbotsford, B.C. is another former Ice player who attended Jets development camp on a free agent invite. Sward and Zloty were reunited after playing together in the 2022-23 season.

“I was playing with (Sward) for a year there and he’s a great guy, great player,” said Zloty. “Anytime you can come back here with some teammates, it’s exciting.”

Sward was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Last season, he played 66 games with the Wenatchee Wild, putting up 31 points (15 G, 16A).

Zloty did not skate on the last day of development camp after being hit in the wrist by a puck impacting his range of motion. Instead, he focused on additional work and rehab with trainers.

“There’s a great group of guys here,” Zloty said on what he took away from camp. “We’ve got a great organization to work with, all the staff are good. Just being ready for anything, kind of expect the unexpected, that’s what I learned here.”

After going back to Calgary for the summer, Zloty will return as an exciting player to watch on the Moose.

“First year just kind of getting the foot in the door and just having a good year and letting the coaches trust me. And then progressing throughout the next year just trying to get the big NHL contract,” he said.

zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca