Flames call up 10 ‘black aces’ from Stockton

With the season complete for the Stockton Heat, the Calgary Flames have summoned some reinforcements from their American Hockey League affiliate. The club has recalled 10 players to serve as “black aces” and practice as extra bodies.

The team players recalled are goaltender Tyler Parsons, defensemen Rinat Valiev and Marcus Hogstrom, and forwards Spencer Foo, Tyler Graovac, Matthew Phillips, Buddy Robinson, Ryan Lomberg and Glenn Gawdin.

The additions give the Flames 38 players on their expanded roster: four goaltenders, 12 defensemen and 22 forwards. The main group tends to practice with two goalies, eight defensemen and 12 forwards, so this will give the recalled players some expanded time in a relatively small group with the team’s development staff.

Under active NHL contracts but not recalled are goaltenders Mason McDonald and Nick Schneider (who are with the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks in the playoffs), forwards Anthony Peluso and Kerby Rychel (who are injured), and defensemen Matt Taormina, Andrew Nielsen and Josh Healey and forward Brett Pollock (who we’re not entirely clear about their statuses).