Michael Ferland Michael Ferland ( born April 20 , 1992 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He was a fifth round selection of the Flames , 133rd overall at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft . Early life . Ferland was born April 20 , 1992 , in Swan River , Manitoba . He is the middle of three children – he has an older sister and a younger brother – raised alone by his mother Dianne who worked as a dietary aide at a nursing home in Swan River . Michael played house league hockey from age eight to 15 before earning the attention of the midget AAA Brandon Wheat Kings ; he was given a try - out and earned a place with the team . Dianne struggled to fund her son ' s hockey dream ; she required support from charities such as KidSport and the Manitoba Métis Foundation to help pay for his equipment . Dianne also credited her eldest daughter , Samantha , who was never able to play competitive sports herself as the family was unable to support more than one child in the sport . When Michael made the midget Wheat Kings team , the parents of his Swan River teammates helped pay his enrollment fees . Playing career . At age 17 , Ferland joined the major junior Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League ( WHL ) . He scored 9 goals and 28 points in 61 games during the 2009 – 10 regular season . He also appeared in 15 playoff games for Brandon , and played an additional five in the 2010 Memorial Cup . The Calgary Flames selected him with their fifth round pick , 133rd overall , at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft . Ferland remained with Brandon for the following two seasons where he recorded 56 points in 2010 – 11 then finished ninth in WHL scoring with 96 points in 2011 – 12 . In the off - season prior to the 2012 – 13 season , Ferland was charged with assault following a bar fight in Cochrane , Alberta . He began his professional career as he awaited trial as the Flames assigned Ferland to their American Hockey League ( AHL ) affiliate , the Abbotsford Heat . He arrived to training camp in poor condition and struggled with Abbotsford . After seven games , he was demoted to the ECHL ' s Utah Grizzlies for just three games before the Flames returned him to junior hockey and the Brandon Wheat Kings . His stay with the Wheat Kings was similarly short as Brandon traded Ferland to the Saskatoon Blades ; as he struggled , the 20 - year - old Ferland became discouraged and considered quitting hockey entirely . Ferland persevered and played a pivotal role with the Blades as they won 18 consecutive games and reached the 2013 Memorial Cup . The Flames worked with Ferland throughout as they attempted to guide his career forward . During the 2012 – 13 season , coach Bob Hartley connected Ferland with former NHL and fellow aboriginal player Gino Odjick to help his transition to professional hockey . Ferland returned to Abbotsford for the 2013 – 14 AHL season 24 pounds lighter than the 234 pounds he weighed the previous season . He recorded 18 points in 25 games for the Heat before suffering a knee injury on December 12 , 2013 that ended his season . Ferland ' s assault charge proceeded to trial over the summer and a jury found that he had acted in self - defence in acquitting him . Ferland had been considered a candidate to be recalled to Calgary prior to suffering his knee injury ; the team had intended to recall him to the Flames as a reward for his work in Abbotsford at the time he was hurt . After returning to health in time for the team ' s training camp prior to the 2014 – 15 NHL season , Ferland continued to impress the team ' s coaches with both his scoring ability and physical play . He did not make the roster out of camp ; he was assigned to the Adirondack Flames to start the season . He led Adirondack with four goals and five assists in nine games when an injury to Mikael Backlund led the Flames to recall Ferland to Calgary on October 30 , 2014 . He made his NHL debut the following night in a 4 – 3 victory over the Nashville Predators , but was himself injured and missed the following eight games after being hit with an elbow to the head by Anton Volchenkov . Volchenkov received a four game suspension for the hit . Ferland recorded his first NHL point on November 22 , 2014 , with an assist on a goal by Josh Jooris in a 5 – 4 victory over the New Jersey Devils .