Meet the 2018 development camp invites
By Ryan Pike
5 years agoThe Calgary Flames filled out their 2018 development camp roster with 19 players attending on invites. Some may go on to have notable pro hockey careers. Many of them will not.
Here’s a quick rundown of the players in camp on invites.
LW Erik Brown – R.I.T. (NCAA)
A senior at the Rochester Institute of Technology, the 22-year-old Brown is a left-shot winger from Peterborough, Ontario. He had 29 goals and 42 points in 37 college contests last season and could be one of the top college free agents this coming spring. Keep an eye on him. (#74, Group B)
D Jake Christiansen – Everett (WHL)
A left-shot blueliner from West Vancouver, this 18-year-old has three full WHL seasons under his belt and has improved his offensive output in each of them. He had 31 points in 72 games this past season for the Silvertips, but was passed over in the NHL draft for the second consecutive year. (#57, Group A)
C Callum Cusinato – St. Lawrence University (NCAA)
A big-bodied forward listed at 6’2″ and 205 pounds, the 19-year-old Cusinato put up rather pedestrian numbers in his first college season – seven points in 29 games. But he’s got size, and he’s a future teammate of fellow camp attendees David Jankowski (see below) and Flames fourth round selection Martin Pospisil. (#94, Group B)
LW Jordan Ernst – Sarnia Sting (OHL)
As a 21-year-old from major junior, Ernst is looking for a place to play this season after aging out of the OHL. He had 27 goals and 54 points in 68 games for Sarnia last season and his offensive output might make him a useful AHL or ECHL depth body. (#97, Group B)
G Justin Fazio – Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Like Ernst, the 21-year-old Fazio has aged out of junior. He’s played four full seasons in the O, finishing up with a .918 save percentage in 51 games with Sarnia last season. There’s no obvious place for him in the Flames organization, but he gets a shot anyway. (#40, Group A)
RW Ben Freeman – University of Connecticut (NCAA)
A 22-year-old right-shot forward, Freeman is heading into his junior year with U. Conn. He had 21 points in 35 games last season. He’s also big, listed at 6’4″ and 209 pounds. (#79, Group A)
G Matt Galajda – Cornell University (NCAA)
This kid might be legit. The 20-year-old Galajda had great numbers with the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies two seasons ago (.926 save percentage), and followed up with a sparkling .939 save percentage as a college freshman. For comparison’s sake, Jon Gillies had a .931 as a freshman. With Mason McDonald’s contract expiring after this season, maybe keep an eye on Galajda. (#31, Group B)
D Dalton Hamaliuk – Spokane (WHL)
Hamaliuk is 20 and big. He’s 6’2″ and 216 pounds. He’s never scored more than 16 points over three seasons in the Dub. (#96, Group A)
C David Jankowski – Hawkesbury (CCHL)
Jankowski is 21 and is the Diet Coke version of Mark Jankowski, his older brother. He’s shorter (6’1″) and smaller (165 pounds) and not quite as offensively dynamic, I’m told. He’s committed to St. Lawrence University for the fall. He captained Hawkesbury last season and had 90 points in 60 games, good for the scoring crown. (#46, Group A)
D Joe Lakusta – Prince George (WHL)
A right-shot defender, the 20-year-old Lakusta is coming off his third full WHL season. He had 42 points, more than tripling his previous season’s offensive output. (#51, Group A)
RW Jimmy Lambert – Vernon (BCHL)
A right-shot winger from the BCHL, the 21-year-old Lambert is headed into his freshman year with the University of Michigan. He’s not huge but he was a point-per-game player in junior A. His uncle is Washington Capitals assistant coach Lane Lambert. (#95, Group B)
LW Michael Little – Mississauga (OHL)
Passed over in the 2018 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old little isn’t huge but posted respectable numbers in the OHL. He had 28 points in 65 games and could have some future upside. (#90, Group A)
C Bobby McMann – Colgate University (NCAA)
A 22-year-old product of Wainwright, Alberta, McMann is headed into his third year at Colgate. He had 30 points in 40 games last season, building off a very nice three-year run in the AJHL with the Bonnyville Pontiacs. (#84, Group B)
D Igor Merezhko – Lethbridge (WHL)
This Ukrainian import is 6’4″ and 220 pounds and is a right shot. He’s 20, was an alternate captain for the Hurricanes last season and had 33 points. NHL size, unsure about NHL skating. (#98, Group B)
C Luke Morgan – University of Michigan (NCAA)
Morgan, 20, is an interesting case. He played his freshman year in 2016-17 for Lake Superior State, then decided to transfer to Michigan. Because of the NCAA’s transfer rules (and because his old school didn’t sign off on immediate eligibility), he had to sit for the entire 2017-18 season to be eligible to play for the Wolverines this season. Wild, eh? He had 22 points in 36 games as a true freshman (two years ago). (#89, Group A)
D Brayden Pachel – Prince Albert (WHL)
An Estevan, Saskatchewan product, Pachel (18) was traded to the Raiders two seasons ago after spending time with the Victoria Royals. He had 26 points (and 100 penalty minutes) for the Raiders last year. (#73, Group A)
D Merrick Rippon – Ottawa (OHL)
Overlooked in the 2018 NHL Draft, Rippon had 23 points in 68 games split between Ottawa and Mississauga. He’s a solid left-shot defender who was ranked 99th by Future Considerations. (#87, Group B)
D Egor Zamula – Calgary (WHL)
Another overlooked 2018 NHL Draft prospect, Zamula had 18 points in 69 games split between Calgary and Regina. He’s a dependable player, but doesn’t have a ton of flash. He was ranked 105th by Future Considerations. (#92, Group B)
D Bogdan Zhilyakov – MHK St. Petersburg (MHL)
A rare undrafted Russian lured over for a camp, Zhilyakov had 12 points in 43 games in Russia’s main junior league last season. He was eligible for the draft but not selected. He didn’t have a ton of major buzz, but he was part of Russia’s Hlinkas, Under-18 and Junior-A Worlds teams. (#86, Group B)
Keep your eye on…
Pay attention to the two big college stars, Brown and Galajda. They might be interesting projects down the road. Jankowski, Rippon and Zamula are also intriguing players.
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