Six Flames prospects will play at World Juniors

Ladies and gentlemen, the Calgary Flames may be on a holiday break but a ton of their key prospects will be quite busy into the new year. Six Flames prospects will represent the organization in the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, New York.

The Flames prospects headed to the tournament are Canada’s Dillon Dube (who will serve as captain), the United States’ Adam Fox (who will be an alternate captain), Finland’s Juuso Valimaki (his team’s captain) and Eetu Tuulola, Sweden’s Linus Lindstrom and Slovakia’s Adam Ruzicka.

Dube, 19, was the Flames’ second round pick back in 2016. He had a good season last year with the Kelowna Rockets, made the World Junior team despite missing the start of the season dealing with a knee injury and then had a tremendous World Junior tournament. He’s off to an excellent start to the WHL season with Kelowna and will serve as Canada’s captain and all around go-to guy. He was superb in Flames camp. His entry-level deal begins next season and there are whispers that maybe, just maybe, he could find his way into a job in Calgary in the fall. (He’s that good.)

Fox, 19, was the Flames’ third round pick back in 2016. He set the single-season defensive scoring record for the U.S. National Development Team program in his draft year, then went on an absolute tear with Harvard as a freshman. He was a first-team All-American (as a rookie) and playing a secondary role helped lead Team USA to a World Junior gold medal. He’s off to another good start for Harvard and will be an alternate captain and all around top dog on the blueline in this tournament.

Valimaki, 19, was the Flames’ first round pick in 2017. He’s been a very productive all around defender for the past two seasons (and change) with the Tri-City Americans, though he’s had a few minor injuries this season that have limited him to just 19 games so far. He was named captain of Finland’s World Junior team during their summer camp and he’ll be expected to anchor their team. His entry-level deal could begin next season (if he plays enough games in the NHL).

Tuulola, 19, was the Flames’ sixth round pick in 2016. He had a solid season with Everett after being drafted, but was recalled back to Finland by his club team – if he had signed with the Flames he could’ve stayed in Everett. He’s been solid in a secondary role for HPK this season and recently signed an extension that expires after the 2019-20 season. He’s a longer term prospect, but it’s encouraging to see him making this team.

Lindstrom, 19, may be the hidden gem of the prospect base. A fourth round pick in 2016, he’s been quietly very good for Skelleftea over the past two seasons – he’s played 76 SHL games since being drafted and has settled in as a middle six center before his 20th birthday. He’ll be expected to do largely the same thing for Tre Kronor.

Ruzicka, 18, was the Flames’ fourth round pick in 2017. He was a solid, if inconsistent, OHL import last season and he’s been more consistent and impressive offensively this season. He’s among the OHL’s scoring leaders and was basically a shoo-in for a spot on Slovakia’s roster after playing with their Under-18 and World Junior teams last year.