Heat make roster moves, Schneider and Fischer to ECHL

The Calgary Flames have finalized their season-opening roster and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Stockton Heat, are getting closer to nailing down theirs.

Among several moves, the Heat have sent a pair of Flames properties to the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks: goaltender Nick Schneider and forward Zach Fischer. Both players are 21-year-olds entering their first season of professional hockey.

Schneider was signed by the Flames in September 2015 as a walk-on in rookie camp who saw time in main camp due a slew of veteran goaltender injuries. He’s played with the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers and Calgary Hitmen.

Fischer was a fifth round selection of the Flames in the 2017 NHL Draft and is currently on an AHL contract – the club retains his NHL rights until Jun. 1, 2019, so this is essentially a tryout for an entry-level deal. He spent his WHL tenure with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Spokane Chiefs.

With the glut of minor league goaltenders and forwards both were likely destined to spend time in Kansas City, so these aren’t surprising assignments.