Max Sasson Shares Emotional Phone Call He Had With His Father After Being Called Up to Vancouver

PUBLICATION

Cooper Godin
November 22, 2024 (7:43 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Prospect Max Sasson spoke with reporters on Friday after his first NHL call-up and shared how he's feeling, along with who he called first after he got the news.

There will be a solo lap on Saturday night before the Vancouver Canucks take to the ice for warm-up at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa as prospect Max Sasson will make his debut in the National Hockey League.

It's an exciting time for Max Sasson, who was signed back in the spring of 2023 as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan University.

After a solid first season of professional hockey in 2023-24 and a good start to this year, Max Sasson finally got the call up he's been waiting for and it'll be an emotional night in Ottawa for him and his family.

Max Sasson shares emotional phone call he had with his father

Following practice on Friday afternoon, Max Sasson met with reporters and discussed how he's feeling after he got called up to the NHL and shared who he called first after receiving the news from Abbotsford Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson.

Sasson told reporters that he phoned his dad after getting the news, saying that his father is his biggest supporter and he was screaming and crying after he informed him.

"I was in Henderson with the AHL team and got a text from RJ [Ryan Johnson], our GM there, and he said 'give me a call when you can' and I figured it was good news. He told me it's his favourite call to make and that I was going to be playing my first game on Saturday and I was being called up and just a ton of emotions. I'm sure it'll sink in even more, but just thinking about all the days at the rink and growing up and how much it means to my family, my friends and everyone who's followed me throughout my career. Really special day." Sasson said.

He added, "I called my dad. He's probably my biggest fan. He's been there the whole way and he started screaming, started crying. It was a pretty special phone call. It's his first game too it feels like, he's been there the whole way too and as well as my whole family. I got to call my mom after, my brother, my girlfriend - it was awesome."

Sasson shared that originally, his dad was going to come see him play down in Nevada as the Abbotsford Canucks take on the Henderson Silver Knights this season, but he told him to come up to Ottawa instead, along with his mom, brother, girlfriend, aunt and friends.

Rick Tocchet was asked about Max Sasson being called up to the National Hockey League and him making his debut tomorrow night.

"First of all, it's a special time. His dad coming to the game. He's a guy [Sasson] who's really trended as a really good prospect for us. The last couple of years he's really worked on his game. Hard-working guy, There's an opportunity here for him and we're really excited for him." Tocchet said.

Max Sasson will don the #63 in his National Hockey League debut tomorrow night, becoming only the third player in Vancouver Canucks history to wear that number, joining Philip Larsen in 2017 and Jalen Chatfield in 2021, according to Jeff Paterson.

Puck drop for Max Sasson's NHL debut tomorrow night against the Ottawa Senators is set for 4 pm PT on CBC across the country.