Here are the QMJHL's most notable players of November: Rookie: Matvei Gridin #flames Forward: Justin Carbonneau Defenseman: Loic Usereau Goaltender: Lucas Beckman
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The Flames World Juniors crop may be lean, but a lot of prospects are having strong seasons
Photo credit: Tim Cornett/OHL Images
The Calgary Flames won’t be sending very many players to the 2025 edition of the IIHF World Junior Championship.
The Flames’ prospect crop boasts quite a few strong players born in 2005 and 2006 – the big years for players in this year’s tournament – but the challenge is that most of them are Canadians, and it can be argued that Canada’s national junior team is one of the toughest teams to make, period. Axel Hurtig, with Sweden, is the lone Flames prospect headed to this year’s event.
But don’t let the lack of World Juniors representation put a pall on the Flames’ prospect base: they have a lot of youngsters have strong seasons, split between the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers, several major junior teams, and even American colleges.
Let’s check in to see how some of them are doing in this week’s update!
Jonathan Aspirot – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
25; signed as a free agent; 6’0″, 200 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 17 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 18.75 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 66 | 6 | 27 | 33 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 94 | 19.93 |
An offensive specialist, Aspirot had two assists this week.
Andrew Basha – LW/C, Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
19; Calgary’s second round pick (41st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’11”, 174 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 5th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 17 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 56 | 29.13 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 63 | 30 | 55 | 85 | 69 | 52 | 41 | 189 | 33.41 |
Basha remains out week-to-week with an upper body injury
Jacob Battaglia – LW, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL
18; Calgary’s second round pick (62nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 11th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 27 | 17 | 20 | 37 | 32 | 25 | 21 | 87 | 36.30 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 67 | 31 | 34 | 65 | 54 | 39 | 34 | 168 | 25.70 |
This was a slow week by Battaglia’s standards – roughly a point per game – but he remains incredibly productive offensively.
Parker Bell – LW/C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s fifth round pick (155th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 192 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 16 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 7.47 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 59 | 33 | 31 | 64 | 50 | 35 | 31 | 231 | 26.86 |
Bell had a two goal game against Manitoba on Friday.
Jake Boltmann – D, Northeastern University Huskies, NCAA/Hockey East
23; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 188 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 10.92 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 30 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 36 | 1.82 |
Boltmann had an assist over the weekend, and has now officially doubled last season’s offensive production.
Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
19; Vancouver’s third round pick (75th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver; 6’0″, 190 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 3rd-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 20 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 7.97 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 67 | 13 | 79 | 92 | 46 | 65 | 34 | 140 | 36.37 |
After being scratched for a game last week, Brzustewicz was back in the rotation and posted a pair of assists.
Lucas Ciona – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s sixth round pick (173rd overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 210 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 17 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 21.10 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 55 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 67 | 4.35 |
Ciona continues to have a strong season as he carves out a nice role for himself as a physical winger. He had two assists this week.
Matt Coronato – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s first round pick (13th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 183 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 39.85 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 41 | 15 | 27 | 42 | 28 | 27 | 17 | 140 | 40.82 |
Coronato is in the NHL.
Matvei Gridin – RW, Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL
18; Calgary’s first round pick (28th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 182 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 6th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 24 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 89 | 27.17 |
2023-24 (USHL) | 60 | 38 | 45 | 83 | 67 | 49 | 42 | 208 | 31.76 |
Gridin was named the QMJHL’s rookie of the month for November.
Artem Grushnikov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Dallas’ second round pick (48th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Dallas; 6’1″, 203 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 17th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 1.99 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 63 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 65 | 3.80 |
It took him awhile, but Grushnikov finally registered his first point of the season over the weekend.
Sam Honzek – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
20; Calgary’s first round pick (16th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 186 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 4th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 11 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 18.11 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 33 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 86 | 23.26 |
Honzek posted two assists this week.
Trevor Hoskin – RW, Niagara University Purple Eagles, NCAA/AHA
20; Calgary’s fourth round pick (106th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 175 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 17 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 28 | 14.04 |
2023-24 (OJHL) | 52 | 42 | 58 | 100 | 85 | 60 | 50 | 189 | 5.36 |
Hoskin posted two assists this week.
Axel Hurtig – D, Calgary Hitmen, WHL
19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 202 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 25 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 4.95 |
2023-24 (J20) | 27 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 54 | 15.10 |
Hurtig scored his first WHL goal in a one-sided Teddy Bear Toss win over Moose Jaw on Sunday. He was named to Sweden’s World Juniors roster on Wednesday morning. He’s having a good week.
Eric Jamieson – D, Everett Silvertips, WHL
19; Calgary’s seventh round pick (208th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 200 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 26 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 64 | 12.38 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 66 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 21 | 27 | 18 | 174 | 12.01 |
Everett is a juggernaut this season in the Dub. Jamieson had three assists this week.
Joni Jurmo – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Rapid City Rush, ECHL
22; Vancouver’s third round pick (82nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; Acquired in a trade with Vancouver; 6’3″, 190 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
AHL season to date | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
ECHL season to date | 9 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 17.86 |
2023-24 (Liiga) | 46 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 63 | 4.03 |
Jurmo made his AHL debut on Sunday. The Wranglers dressed seven defenders so they sheltered him a bit, but he performed well.
Rory Kerins – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 175 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 21 | 15 | 7 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 55 | 41.75 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 54 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 27 | 22 | 18 | 115 | 23.62 |
This was a typical Kerins week, as he posted three points.
Adam Klapka – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Free agent signing; 6’8″, 235 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 15th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 26 | 45.55 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 65 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 34 | 31 | 22 | 182 | 27.59 |
Klapka spent most of last week in the NHL before being assigned back to the Wranglers on Monday.
Yan Kuznetsov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s second round pick (50th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 209 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 20th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 21 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 26 | 13.28 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 63 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 88 | 8.22 |
Kuznetsov had no points this week.
Hunter Laing – C/RW, Prince George Cougars, WHL
18; Calgary’s sixth round pick (170th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’5″, 205 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 23 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 45 | 15.07 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 66 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 18 | 20 | 14 | 101 | 9.38 |
Laing had no points this week.
Jaden Lipinski – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Vancouver Giants, WHL
19; Calgary’s fourth round pick (112th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’4″, 204 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 16th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
WHL season to date | 15 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 29 | 19.81 |
AHL season to date | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
2023-24 (WHL) | 67 | 24 | 42 | 66 | 47 | 33 | 23 | 181 | 24.39 |
Lipinski had no points this week.
Cade Littler – C/RW, University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA/NCHC
20; Calgary’s seventh round pick (219th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 197 pounds; shoots right
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8.31 |
2023-24 (BCHL) | 24 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 17 | 9 | 6 | – | 5.51 |
Littler had no points this week, but he has seemingly established himself as a regular with North Dakota as a freshman.
Henry Mews – D, Ottawa 67’s, OHL
18; Calgary’s third round pick (74th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 181 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 9th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 24 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 21 | 10 | 8 | 114 | 32.00 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 65 | 15 | 46 | 61 | 38 | 35 | 24 | 153 | 24.86 |
Mews had two assists this week.
Luke Misa – LW/C, Brampton Steelheads, OHL
19; Calgary’s fifth round pick (150th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 170 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 13th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 22 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 21 | 25 | 16 | 61 | 35.31 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 66 | 26 | 55 | 81 | 56 | 58 | 39 | 210 | 32.51 |
Not only did Misa beat his brother’s team in a head-to-head game, but he posted five points this week.
Etienne Morin – D, Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL
19; Calgary’s second round pick (48th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 180 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 10th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 24 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 75 | 26.20 |
2023-24 (QMJHL) | 58 | 12 | 37 | 49 | 32 | 21 | 13 | 191 | 19.67 |
Morin had three assists this week.
Sam Morton – C, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
25; Free agent signing; 6’0″, 185 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 21 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 43 | 24.67 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 37 | 24 | 10 | 34 | 32 | 20 | 19 | 151 | 24.00 |
Morton had no points this week.
Ilya Nikolaev – C/LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL / Rapid City Rush, ECHL
23; Calgary’s third round pick (88th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 190 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
AHL season to date | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 17.71 |
ECHL season to date | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 29 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 33 | 8.25 |
Nikolaev terminated his NHL entry-level deal with the Flames this week and he’s departing the organization.
Zayne Parekh – D, Saginaw Spirit, OHL
18; Calgary’s first round pick (9th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’0″, 179 pounds; shoots right; FN’s 1st-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 22 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 20 | 14 | 9 | 98 | 36.12 |
2023-24 (OHL) | 66 | 33 | 63 | 96 | 66 | 54 | 39 | 224 | 38.53 |
Parekh served a one game suspension for a cross-checking match penalty, then had an assist in his return to action.
Jakob Pelletier – RW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
23; Calgary’s first round pick (26th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft; 5’9″, 170 pounds; shoots left
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 20 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 41 | 37.86 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 18 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 45 | 26.57 |
Pelletier is in the NHL.
Jeremie Poirier – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
22; Calgary’s third round pick (72nd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’1″, 196 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 7th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 21 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 45 | 15.18 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 23 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 44 | 22.53 |
Poirier had no points this week.
Ilya Solovyov – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 208 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 14th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 17 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 19 | 25.79 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 51 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 88 | 11.72 |
Solovyov had an assist this week.
William Strömgren – LW, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
21; Calgary’s second round pick (45th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 175 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 8th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 21 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 32 | 28.47 |
2023-24 (AHL) | 68 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 15 | 74 | 15.82 |
Strömgren had three points this week. When Pelletier was called up prior to Sunday’s game he was promoted to the first line and ended up scoring the game-winning goal.
Aydar Suniev – LW/C, University of Massachusetts Minutemen, NCAA/Hockey East
20; Calgary’s third round pick (80th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’2″, 198 pounds; shoots left; FN’s 12th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | G | A | P | P1 | 5v5 P | 5v5 P1 | SH | NHLe | |
Season to date | 15 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 60 | 36.52 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 35 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 100 | 23.02 |
Suniev had an assist this week.
Daniil Chechelev – G, Yunison-Moskva, VHL
23; Calgary’s fourth round pick (96th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 187 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 3 | 125 | .825 |
2023-24 (VHL) | 5 | 271 | .908 |
Chechelev didn’t play this week.
Waltteri Ignatjew – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL
24; Signed as a free agent; 6’3″, 200 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 6 | 348 | .872 |
2023-24 (SWE-1) | 45 | 2614 | .918 |
Ignatjew backed up Devin Cooley this week.
Arsenii Sergeev – G, Penn State University Nittany Lions, NCAA/Big 10
21; Calgary’s seventh round pick (205th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 192 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 9 | 487 | .905 |
2023-24 (NCAA) | 16 | 934 | .913 |
Sergeev remains out with an injury.
Yegor Yegorov – G, HC Tambov, VHL / MHC Tambov, NMHL
19; Calgary’s sixth round pick (176th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 183 pounds
GP | TOI | SV% | |
VHL season to date | 4 | 160 | .870 |
NMHL season to date | 8 | 449 | .891 |
2023-24 (MHL) | 25 | 1319 | .917 |
Yegorov did not play this week.
Kirill Zarubin – G, AKM Tula, MHL
19; Calgary’s third round pick (84th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft; 6’3″, 178 pounds; FN’s 19th-ranked prospect 2024
GP | TOI | SV% | |
Season to date | 9 | 488 | .927 |
2023-24 (MHL) | 45 | 2473 | .927 |
Zarubin started and made 38 saves in a victory this week.
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