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TORONTO — Still a little groggy from a pre-game nap, Thatcher Demko tried to ignore his phone buzzing with text messages.

The Vancouver Canucks’ prized goalie prospect saw the team had just traded its backup netminder, a move potentially paving the way for his promotion to the NHL.

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But the Utica Comets were playing in a few hours and that required the 23-year-old’s full attention.

It was only after his 31-save performance in a 4-2 victory that the magnitude of the deal that shipped Anders Nilsson to the Ottawa Senators began to sink in.

Demko would be joining the Canucks and leaving the American Hockey League behind — hopefully for good.

“I’ve just got to make the most of it,” the 36th pick in the 2014 NHL draft said of his opportunity Saturday before Vancouver took on the Toronto Maple Leafs. “I was down in the AHL for 2 1/2 years. I want to make sure I don’t go back there. I want to be up here and be an impact player.