Siemens Set To Play First Game In Hometown

EDMONTON, Alberta--Usually when NHL players come to their hometowns during the season, their bank accounts take a bit of a hit with all the tickets that need to be bought for family and friends.
The transaction is two-fold: their supporters want to see them play at the top-tier of the sport, and the players want to say thank you for all the help that they were given throughout their journey to the majors.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Duncan Siemens will get to experience that type of support for the first time this evening as he gets set to play in his first NHL game in his hometown of Edmonton.

"It's very exciting," Siemens said after morning skate at Rogers Place. "This is my first time my little sister has seen me play in quite a few years. It's a special moment for me. Without their support, there is no way I would be here. They sacrificed a lot. So to be able to share this moment with them is pretty special."
Siemens' bank account lucked out for the most part on this initial trip back home, as he'll only have his mom, dad, younger sister and her boyfriend in the stands to watch the Avs close out their season series versus the Edmonton Oilers.
His older sister and brother-in-law wanted to attend as well, but it is unlikely as she has to work and is in her third trimester of a pregnancy.
"She was extra unhappy about not being able to make it," Siemens said.
After playing in Vancouver on Tuesday and not arriving in Edmonton until the early morning hours, the Avalanche players got a full day off on Wednesday. That gave Siemens an opportunity to see and spend some quality time with everyone.
"I lucked out in that aspect," he said. "Not too often do you get a day off in your hometown, so it was nice to catch up with family, go out to dinner with them, see a few friends and have a relaxing day at home."

While he was born in the city of Edmonton, Siemens grew up in Sherwood Park, a suburb just 20 minutes to the east of downtown but still deep in "Oil Country."
Born in 1993, the now 24-year-old missed Edmonton's dynasty years in the 1980's when the franchise won five Stanley Cups, but the club still had a major impact in developing Siemens' love for the game.
"I can remember the countless nights sitting on the floor with a little hockey stick in my hand watching them play," he said. "Seeing (Wayne) Gretzky, (Mark) Messier, some of the dynasties that they've had through here. It is a city that really loves the game. They get great support, and it will be a great atmosphere out there again."
The road to the NHL hasn't been a straight one for Siemens, as there have been plenty of twists and turns since he was selected 11th overall by Colorado in the 2011 NHL Draft.
He's had to deal with injuries and honing his craft in the American Hockey League over the years, but it appears as if he is now getting a chance to show what he can do in the majors after a couple recent injuries left the Avs thin on the blue line.
"I think it has been consistency," Siemens said of how he's grown as a player. "I think I've really learned how to defend in different situations. I got used to the size and the speed. I think the big thing for me was confidence. I've been fortunate enough to be able to have a couple healthy years here to build off of and continue to progress. It's been a little slower than I think we want, but at the end of the day I've worked hard and just looking to keep building off that."

ZADOROV'S 200TH

Colorado defenseman Nikita Zadorov will suit up in a milestone contest this evening, as he'll play in his 200th game in the NHL.
The Moscow, Russia, native broke into the league as an 18-year-old with the Buffalo Sabres and played his first 67 games with the club that drafted him 16th overall in 2013. The Avalanche acquired Zadorov in a trade on June 26, 2015, and the big blueliner has dressed in 132 outings in burgundy and blue.
"I was 18 years old when I played my first game," said Zadorov, now 22. "Now I'm five years older and have learned [a lot] from that time. All the coaches I've worked with, they've put so much work in it. Everyone else as well. I've grown as a player, and hopefully I don't stop."
Zadorov's four goals this season already mark a new career high while his 15 points tie his personal best that he set in 2014-15 with Buffalo. He has 43 points (eight goals and 35 assists) and 194 penalty minutes in his career.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said there won't be any lineup chances for tonight's game at the Oilers. Defenseman Andrei Mironov and forward Dominic Toninato will be the healthy scratches. Semyon Varlamov will get the start in goal for the third consecutive contest.
Gabriel Landeskog - Nathan MacKinnon - Mikko Rantanen
Colin Wilson - Alex Kerfoot - J.T. Compher
Matt Nieto - Carl Soderberg - Blake Comeau
Gabriel Bourque - Tyson Jost - Nail Yakupov
Nikita Zadorov - Tyson Barrie
Samuel Girard - Patrik Nemeth
Duncan Siemens - David Warsofsky
Semyon Varlamov
Andrew Hammond