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“I think it’s good for young guys to cook for longer periods down here – keeps them humble and competitive when things don’t come easy. He’s around the puck a lot right now. He’s hungry, and when he has the puck, he’s always looking to make something happen. He’s not afraid to get his nose dirty and play a hard game. He’s using his skill the right way.”

A sixth-round Flames pick in 2015 because of his size, the two-time 100-point getter with the Colts came into this season in completely different fashion than last year when a groin injury prevented him from working out until a few weeks before camp.

“I put in a lot of work this summer and got better every day – it’s paying off,” said Mangiapane, who Huska says is one of the team’s biggest gym rats.

“Last year as a rookie, I won’t say I had low confidence, but I was learning how to live my by myself and away from home, and I was adjusting to the speed and the game. Now I’m used to it and know what to expect.

“This year, I’m more confident, I know the system and the guys, and I’m being myself.”

He knows Jankowski well, too, which could make a reunion in the bigs more successful.

“When Janko was down here, we knew where each other was going to be – we have a lot of chemistry,” Mangiapane said of Jankowski, a good friend of his who has been the Flames’ third-line centre since he was summoned from the Heat on Oct. 22.

“He is a great player, and I’m happy he’s been called up as it’s nice to see they’re calling people up and it is possible. I just have to keep playing the way I am and not worry about the phone call.”

Jankowski has yet to record a point or make much of an impact with the Flames but is getting better.

So are the third and fourth lines on the NHL club.

But unless someone decides to break this relative goose-egg to add secondary scoring to the Flames, management will be forced to pay more and more attention to the possibility of adding a talented youngster or two dominating the minors.

efrancis@postmedia.com

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