This is the Apr. 8-14 edition of the Calgary Flames prospect round-up, where we look at how Flames prospects have done every week. Specifically, we’ll look at players playing overseas, in junior hockey, or at the college level, as the American Hockey League prospects will have an article of their own in the Wranglers Recaps.

In this edition of the Flames prospect round-up, we’ll take a look at what has happened so far in the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs, how the NCAA National Tournament went, and how other Flame prospects are doing in their postseason. Let’s dig in!

College

Last weekend was the 2026 NCAA National Tournament, featuring four Flame prospects on two different teams. Let’s take a look at how the Frozen Four went.

National Tournament

On one side of the bracket, Cole Reschny, Cade Littler, and Abram Wiebe represented North Dakota, who were taking on Wisconsin. The other side of the bracket featured Denver’s Eric Jamieson.

Starting with North Dakota, Wisconsin got out to a 1-0 lead with about seven minutes left in the first period, then added a second goal 27 seconds later to take a 2-0 lead. That’s all they needed, as Ellis RIckwood’s goal in the final minute wasn’t enough, sending Wisconsin to the finals.

Reschny, the Flames’ first round pick in 2025, finished his freshman season with six goals and 35 points in 36 games with the Fighting Hawks. Littler, who has entered the transfer portal, finished his sophomore season with five goals and 13 points. Finally, Wiebe finished the season with five goals and 29 points in 40 games, and has already made his National Hockey League debut with the Flames.

Denver took on Michigan in their bracket, without Henry Mews, of course. They opened the scoring midway through the first period, but the Wolverines fired back with two goals in the final four minutes of the first to give them a 2-1 lead after 20. The lone goal of the second period belonged to Denver.

Deadlocked at two heading into the third period, Jayden Perron scored for the Wolverines midway through the third, but Clarke Caswell’s goal with just over two and a half minutes sent the game to overtime. The first overtime solved nothing, but Denver came away with the win with seven and a half minutes in the second overtime period, as Jamieson picked up an assist on Kent Anderson’s game winner.

That set up a showdown between Wisconsin and Denver for the National Championship, with the Badgers scoring with just over six minutes left in the first. After a scoreless second period, Rieger Lorenz tied the game for Denver seven and a half minutes into the third period, and Kyle Chyzowski scored the game-winner with just under six minutes left in the game.

It was Denver’s 11th title, winning in three of the last five seasons. Jamieson finished the season with seven goals and 18 points in 42 games, and will likely return to the team for his sophomore season.

Junior

Three Flames prospects are currently involved in the Western Hockey League post-season, while Mace’o Phillips Green Bay Gamblers kicked off their playoff run.

WHL

Starting with Hunter Laing, his Saskatoon Blades defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings in a seven game classic. Unfortunately, their second round matchup against the Prince Albert Raiders hasn’t gone nearly as well. Game 1 saw the Blades fall 6-1, registering just seven shots through the first two periods. They haven’t scored since, as the Raiders took Game 2 by a score of 3-0, then Game 3 by a score of 4-0. This post-season, Laing has three goals and eight points in 10 games.

The Medicine Hat Tigers (Andrew Basha) and Calgary Hitmen (Axel Hurtig) are playing each other in a second round series. Although the Tigers are up 3-0, it’s been far more competitive. Game 1 was a 3-2 overtime victory for the Tigers, the reigning Ed Chynoweth Cup winners. The second game was also a one-goal game, with the Tigers winning 4-3, before defeating the Hitmen 5-2 in Game 3.

Basha picked up an assist in Game 1, Hurtig was held pointless. Neither player had a point in Game 2, while Basha picked up three assists in Game 3. Hurtig was once again held pointless. Through eight games, Basha has three goals and 13 points, while Hurtig has a goal and three points in seven games.

There’s a very real chance both series end in a sweep. The Tigers have a chance to sweep the series on Wednesday, with a start time of 7:00 PM MT. If they fail to achieve that, Game 5 is on Friday, Game 6 is on Sunday, and Game 7 is on Tuesday. Of the two series, this one has the best chance of seeing at least two games.

As for the Blades, Game 4, likely their last game of the season, is also on Wednesday. I’d be shocked if they force a Game 5, but if they do, that’s on Friday, followed by Game 6 on Sunday afternoon, and Game 7 on Tuesday evening.

USHL

Finishing third in the United States Hockey League’s Eastern Conference, the Green Bay Gamblers had a first round matchup against the Madison Capitols, the sixth-seeded team. Unfortunately, Mace’o Phillips’ USHL career has come to an early end, as the Gamblers fell 2-1 in regulation in Game 1, then fell 2-1 in overtime in Game 2.

Make no mistake about it, the Gamblers were the better team. In Game 1, they outshot the Capitols 37-13, with the Flames’ prospect registering two of those shots. It took a heroic effort from Caleb Heil for the Capitols to win, stopping 36 of 37 shots. Game 2 was a bit more balanced, with an equal number of shots (26 a piece).

Phillips finished the season with a goal and 11 points in 44 games, along with 187 penalty minutes and a +1. He was a -1 in the two post-season games, where he was held pointless. He’ll be attending Minnesota in the autumn.

Overseas

There are just three Flames prospects who played overseas last week. One is fighting relegation, another is on the cusp of winning a title, and the other played a winner-take-all Game 5. Let’s take a look at the two Swedes and one Russian who were in action this past week.

Sweden

Djurgårdens IF U20 need just one more win to repeat as J20 Nationell champions. In the last edition of the round-up, they were up 2-0 against Leksand U20, managing to sweep the series with an emphatic 8-3 victory. That game saw Flame prospect Theo Stockselius score twice and pick up an assist.

That set up a matchup with Frölunda HC U20 to determine the 2025-26 champion, and, well, Djurgårdens IF U20 is off to a great start. Tuesday saw them pick up a 3-2 victory, with Stockselius scoring the opening goal. On Wednesday, they won 2-1 in overtime, with Stockselius picking up an assist.

Jakob Leander’s HV71 U20 has continued to win, picking up a 5-4 victory over Tingsryd U20 last Wednesday, a 6-1 win over Grums U20 on Saturday, and a 4-0 victory over Västerås IK U20 on Sunday.

HV71 U20 have no upcoming games, but Stockselius’s Djurgårdens IF U20 have a chance to win it all on Saturday. If they can’t get it done that day, Game 4 is on Sunday, and Game 5 is on Tuesday.

This post-season, Stockselius has eight goals and 15 points in nine games. As for Leander, he finished the relegation phase with five assists in 10 games.

Russia

In the last edition of the prospect round-up, Yan Matveiko and Red Army were set to play a winner-take-all Game 5 against SKA-1946. Thankfully, they found a way to win that one 4-2, with Matveiko scoring a goal and picking up an assist.

That punched their ticket to the second round, a match-up against JHC Spartak, the same team that beat Kirill Zarubin’s Mikhailov Academy. They fell 6-3 in Game 1, with Matveiko picking up an assist and finishing the game as a -2. He was held pointless in Game 2, but Red Army evened up the series with a 4-3 victory.

Game 3 is on Friday, while Game 4 is on Saturday. If needed, they will be a Game 5, although it’s unclear when that’ll be.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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