Leland Irving has earned the title of heir apparent for the backup goaltending job with the Calgary Flames.When will the job actually open? No one knows. But the Swan Hills, Alta. native is clearly next in line behind Henrik Karlsson to serve as caddy for the venerable Miikka Kiprusoff.

As such, keep an eye on No. 37 in the crease Friday for the Abbotsford Heat as Calgary's No. 1 farm team takes on the Oklahoma City Barons, top affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers in American Hockey League action at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

"We always know that we can rely on him," says Abbotsford defenceman T.J. Brodie. "He has our backs."

Just look at the resume Irving is building this season in the Lower Mainland. The 22-year-old leads the American Hockey League in minutes played (2,620) and games played (46.) Terrific one-on-one, Irving has already set an AHL record this season with nine shootout victories.

He sits second in the league with five shutouts. Owns a 2.31 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .912.

Make no mistake: should something untoward happen to Kiprusoff (perish the thought) or Henrik Karlsson, Irving is the next man up.

"I would be lying to you if I said I wasn't looking to get a chance up there," Irving says. "But I do realize there's a bigger picture and I'm excited with the way things have gone."

With good reason. Back in the summer, Calgary goaltending coach Jamie McLennan said the time had come for Irving to take the next step in his development in the coming season and separate himself from a crowded crease in Abbotsford.

Just one short year ago, Irving - his confidence all but disappeared - had tumbled to No. 3 on the Heat depth chart and landed in Victoria for an East Coast Hockey League stint designed to rediscover his Mojo.

Upon return to Abbotsford, Irving's wild consistency left him on bench in favour of journeyman David Shantz as the battered and bruised Heat made an improbable playoff run.

And so the time had come for Irving to write the next crucial chapter of his hockey career.

"He decided last summer that he was going to commit himself to conditioning," says Abbotsford head coach Jim Playfair.

"He reported to the summer development camp in excellent shape."

In years past, Irving worked over the summer up in the northern Alberta oilfields for his family's excavating company. Lastwsummer, he trained full-time and even consulted with goalie coach Lyle Mast.

Mast worked with Irving on his positioning. Taught him to better track the puck.

The tutelage worked with Irving cleanly winning the duel with Matt Keetley for the starting job on the farm.

"Last year, I had a deal with Darryl (Sutter) that I was going to play each goaltender and split time right up the middle until Christmas to see how it shook out," Playfair says. This year was different. The deal was whoever was going to step up and be No. 1 would be the No. 1. We wanted to identify a No. 3 in the organization.

"Leland took that challenge on."

Challenge accepted. Challenge met, although he clearly takes no joy out of the misery Keetley's misery.

After failing to win the starting job, Keetley suffered a knee injury and is out of the lineup indefinitely. J.P. Lamoureux is the backup for the foreseeable future.

"Keets is a great goaltender," Irving says. "As a friend of mine, I feel for the guy, for sure. It's tough watching him go through that. But the way things have gone for myself, I'm just very fortunate."

So too are the Heat. Irving's next win is his 25th of the season - a career high.

"I've had to earn this," Irving, says, of the starting job. "It wasn't handed to me. And It's not going to be handed to me for the rest of the season. It's one of those things where I have to perform and play well. But above all else, I've got to win.

"I'm just trying to get as many wins in the win column as I can. The rest of it doesn't really matter if we're not putting up two points on the board every night."

As for next season, Karlsson is an unrestricted free agent. The Flames could give him a raise and bring him back. They

could opt for Irving. They could make it a contest in training camp. Or sign someone else.

Decisions, decisions.

"The most important thing for me right now is my development," Irving says. " Playing a lot down here is going to do more for my development than sitting on the bench up there.

"I know there's lots of opportunity for me. But all I can do is control my game."

vhall@calgaryherald.com