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The stretch drive has begun for many of the Flames top prospects
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Photo credit: Steven Ellis/The Nation Network
Ryan Pike
Jan 8, 2025, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 8, 2025, 14:24 EST
We’re into the stretch drive of the junior hockey schedule, friends, and soon we’ll be into that part of the collegiate calendar, too.
The World Juniors are done with and everyone’s starting to adjust their rosters for the stretch drive. We’ve seen this most prominently in the absolute crush of trades across the Canadian Hockey League as its trade deadline approaches this week. Many of these big trades involve teams that feature prominent Calgary Flames prospects.
In the Dub, Axel Hurtig returned from the World Juniors as the Calgary Hitmen added goalie Daniel Hauser from Wenatchee and blueliner Sawyer Mynio from Seattle. Medicine Hat lost Andrew Basha for awhile with an injury (boo!), but added Tanner Molendyk from Saskatoon (yay!). (The WHL’s trade deadline is on Thursday.)
In the OHL, Zayne Parekh’s Saginaw Spirit attempted to recoup some of the draft choices they spent last year when they loaded up for their Memorial Cup run by sending Joey Willis, Ethan Hay and Will Bishop to Jacob Battaglia’s Kingston Frontenacs. (The OHL’s trade deadline is on Friday.)
In the QMJHL, Etienne Morin’s Moncton Wildcats added Dyllan Gill, Mathis Rousseau and Logan Crosby as they ready themselves for what they hope is a long post-season run. (The QMJHL’s trade deadline hit on Monday.)
As we await further moves, let’s delve into this week’s updates!

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
27
2
13
15
8
9
4
25
22.14
2023-24 (AHL)
66
6
27
33
19
12
9
94
19.93
Aspirot played two games this week after returning from the Spengler Cup.

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
23
9
20
29
24
12
9
73
31.22
2023-24 (WHL)
63
30
55
85
69
52
41
189
33.41
As noted elsewhere, Basha is out indefinitely with a lower 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
36
22
25
47
39
31
26
120
34.58
2023-24 (OHL)
67
31
34
65
54
39
34
168
25.70
Battaglia had three points in a couple games this week. He continues to be one of the OHL’s most productive offensive players.

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
26
3
1
4
4
4
4
21
6.13
2023-24 (WHL)
59
33
31
64
50
35
31
231
26.86
Bell returned to the Wranglers’ fourth line after missing a few games with a minor injury.

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
16
0
7
7
0
7
0
8
11.95
2023-24 (NCAA)
30
0
2
2
2
2
2
36
1.82
Northeastern is back from their winter break.

Hunter Brzustewicz – D, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

20; 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
33
1
11
12
6
8
6
24
14.49
2023-24 (OHL)
67
13
79
92
46
65
34
140
36.37
Brzustewicz registered an assist this week. His game continues to grow nicely in his rookie season.

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
30
3
9
12
10
8
7
37
15.94
2023-24 (AHL)
55
4
2
6
5
6
5
67
4.35
Ciona had now doubled last season’s offensive production. As we’ve noted before, his game now has a pretty clear identity at the AHL level and he’s been quite effective in his role.

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
35
21
24
45
29
22
15
142
29.94
2023-24 (USHL)
60
38
45
83
67
49
42
208
31.76
Gridin had a five point week this week. Good for him.

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
27
1
2
3
2
3
2
21
4.43
2023-24 (AHL)
63
1
5
6
5
6
5
65
3.80
Grushnikov returned to action after missing a game with a minor injury.

Sam Honzek – LW/C, 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
24
5
9
14
10
7
5
30
23.25
2023-24 (WHL)
33
10
21
31
22
16
11
86
23.26
Honzek continues to play a pretty confident two-way game, which is pretty impressive for a 20-year-old rookie. He had two points 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
20
6
10
16
13
11
10
36
12.73
2023-24 (OJHL)
52
42
58
100
85
60
50
189
5.36
Hoskin scored a goal this weekend as Niagara returned from winter break.

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
28
2
5
7
5
5
3
28
6.19
2023-24 (J20)
27
3
8
11
7
11
7
54
15.10
Hurtig has returned to the Hitmen following the World Juniors.

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
37
7
16
23
14
18
11
94
15.39
2023-24 (WHL)
66
10
22
32
21
27
18
174
12.01
Jamieson didn’t register any points 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
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
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 played a game but was bumped to the press box once Artem Grushnikov and Jonathan Aspirot both became available. He’s currently the Wranglers’ seventh defender.

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
34
21
13
34
29
24
22
86
39.85
2023-24 (AHL)
54
16
16
32
27
22
18
115
23.62
In a slow week (by this season’s standards), Kerins had two goals this week.

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
20
10
8
18
15
12
10
67
35.87
2023-24 (AHL)
65
21
24
45
34
31
22
182
27.59
Klapka had four points this week.

Demetrios Koumontzis – LW/D, Idaho Steelheads, ECHL

24; Calgary’s fourth round pick (108th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft; 5’10”, 183 pounds; shoots left
GP
G
A
P
P1
5v5
P
5v5
P1
SH
NHLe
Season to date
3
1
0
1
1
1
1
5
7.65
2023-24 (ECHL)
47
9
10
19
11
14
10
84
9.28
Remember Koumontzis? Well, the Flames still have his rights – how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted collegiate eligibility is a gigantic mess – and he just rejoined the Steelheads this past week.

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
34
2
9
11
6
10
6
48
12.89
2023-24 (AHL)
63
5
8
13
9
12
8
88
8.22
Kuznetsov had an assist 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
36
10
12
22
18
18
15
74
15.13
2023-24 (WHL)
66
11
14
25
18
20
14
101
9.38
Laing set up the game-winner in Prince George’s win over Vancouver on Tuesday night.
Update: Laing was traded on Wednesday to the Saskatoon Blades.

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
29
6
20
26
22
16
14
72
22.20
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 seven points over a busy 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
17
2
2
4
3
4
3
12
8.47
2023-24 (BCHL)
24
9
12
21
17
9
6
5.51
North Dakota had an exhibition game this week against the University of Manitoba.

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
37
11
38
49
32
21
15
156
35.08
2023-24 (OHL)
65
15
46
61
38
35
24
153
24.86
Mews had one assist 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
36
21
31
52
36
39
28
110
38.26
2023-24 (OHL)
66
26
55
81
56
58
39
210
32.51
Misa had two 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
34
10
28
38
18
20
14
100
24.79
2023-24 (QMJHL)
58
12
37
49
32
21
13
191
19.67
Morin had a strong week, posting five points.

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
34
7
11
18
14
8
6
63
21.10
2023-24 (NCAA)
37
24
10
34
32
20
19
151
24.00
Morton scored a goal this week.

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
32
12
31
43
31
22
15
144
35.59
2023-24 (OHL)
66
33
63
96
66
54
39
224
38.53
Parekh had a couple points this week.

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
34
2
15
17
9
11
7
68
19.93
2023-24 (AHL)
23
3
10
13
5
5
2
44
22.53
Poirier had a four point 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
30
4
13
17
7
15
7
40
22.58
2023-24 (AHL)
51
5
10
15
10
14
10
88
11.72
Solovyov didn’t register any points 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
33
9
16
25
19
17
14
67
30.19
2023-24 (AHL)
68
7
20
27
23
18
15
74
15.82
Strömgren had two points this week. He’s almost matched last season’s offensive production in less than half as many games.

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
19
12
12
24
19
12
9
74
40.71
2023-24 (NCAA)
35
12
13
25
19
16
12
100
23.02
Suniev had five points over two games this weekend. He’s matched last season’s goal-scoring output already.

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 remains with the KHL’s HC Vityaz as their third goaltender.

Waltteri Ignatjew – G, Calgary Wranglers, AHL

24; Signed as a free agent; 6’3″, 200 pounds
GP
TOI
SV%
Season to date
10
586
.877
2023-24 (SWE-1)
45
2614
.918
Ignatjew allowed four goals in a win over Manitoba.

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
11
612
.922
2023-24 (NCAA)
16
934
.913
After being out since mid-November, Sergeev got his net back this weekend… and crushed it. He was named his conference’s goaltender of the week after making 43 saves in an outdoor game tie at Wrigley Field and a shutout win, both against Notre Dame.

Yegor Yegorov – G, HC Tambov, VHL / MHC Tambov, NMHL / MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva, MHL

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
MHL season to date
7
396
.919
2023-24 (MHL)
25
1319
.917
Yegorov made 27 saves in a win over SKA Junior.

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
12
668
.931
2023-24 (MHL)
45
2473
.927
Zarubin made 42 saves in a loss against SKA-1946.

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