One of the Calgary Wranglers’ blueliners is headed to Switzerland after Christmas. On Friday, Hockey Canada named its roster for the upcoming Spengler Cup tournament, and Wranglers defenceman Jonathan Aspirot was named to the team.

It’s the first time Aspirot has had the opportunity to wear the maple leaf at an international tournament.

The 25-year-old blueliner has had a really interesting career thus far. He played his junior hockey with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Moncton Wildcats. He wasn’t drafted, but he was signed to an entry-level deal by the Ottawa Senators. He spent four seasons with their AHL affiliate in Belleville, but never received a call-up to the NHL club.

Aspirot attended Flames training camp on a professional try-out in 2023 and earned an AHL contract with the Wranglers for the 2023-24 campaign. After he posted 33 points in 66 games with the Wranglers, his AHL deal was converted into an NHL contract for the 2024-25 season. In 24 games with the Wranglers in 2024-25, he’s posted 14 points. Aspirot is currently one of eight defenders on the Wranglers roster and he’ll probably be unavailable for their Dec. 30 and Jan. 1 games against Abbotsford. (With Jarred Tinordi currently injured, we suspect the Wranglers will call up an extra defender from the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush.)

Typically, the Canadian roster at the Spengler Cup is mostly Canada-born individuals playing on European teams with a smattering of North American-based players here and there. This year, they’ve gone in almost the opposite direction. Aspriot is one of 14 players in North American minor-pro headed to Switzerland: seven players are on NHL deals and seven on AHL deals.

In addition to Aspirot, the Flames are sending assistant GM (and vice-president of hockey operations) Brad Pascall, Wranglers equipment manager Peter Bureaux, and Flames team physician Dr. Jim Thorne. Former Flames forward Josh Jooris, currently playing in Switzerland, will also be part of Canada’s team.

The Spengler Cup takes place Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland, featuring the host team HC Davos, plus Team Canada, HC Fribourg-Gotteron (Switzerland), HC Dynamo Pardubice (Czechia), Karpat Oulu (Finland) and the Straubing Tigers (Germany).