The Young and Restless

Flames Prospects Turn Up the Summer Heat by James Duplacey

Hi Folks – After a few weeks of folk festival furlough, I’m back and on the beat – so to speak. With only a handful weeks left before the Flames open their doors to training camp, it’s time to catch up on the latest happenings down at the Saddledome. The club held it’s annual Prospect Camp from July 20 to July 27th. A total of 27 young hopefuls took to the ice under the watchful scrutiny of coach Brent Sutter, gm Darryl Sutter and the rest of the Flames brass. Most of the media attention was focused on the performances of a select number of burgeoning blueliners, fledgling forwards and greenhorn goaltenders. Swedish defenseman Tim Erixon, the clubs first selection in the 2009 Entry Draft, appeared poised and pumped for prime time play as did newly signed rearguards Keith Seabrook and T.J. Brodie. Seabrook, who also has a year of NCAA experience on his resume, collected 55 points for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen during the 2008-09 campaign. Brodie, a fourth round pick in the 2008 lottery, notched 50 points in 63 games for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit and was invited to the Team Canada National Junior Team selection camp, slated to begin later this week in Saskatoon.

A couple of familiar names stood out among the attacking unit’s young guns. Mikael Backlund, the Swedish sensation that signed a contract with the team after the World Junior tournament and made his NHL debut later the same day, dazzled the sideline scribes with his dexterity and determination. Brett Sutter, son of Darryl, was also impressive during the summer skatefest. The gm’s son potted a goal in his NHL debut on December 23 against Anaheim, one of four games he played for the parent club during the 2008-09 season. Other names that elicited attention included Mitch Wahl (67 points with Spokane), Greg Nemisz (36 goals and 77 points with the Memorial Cup-winning Windsor Spitfires) and Ryley Grantham, a 6′4″, 210 pound behemoth who notched 12 goals and 193 PIM’s in the WHL last year.

Both of the team’s top goaltending prospects – Leland Irving and Matt Keetley – staged a friendly yet highly competitive battle between the pipes, knowing that the #2 job behind Miikka Kiprusoff won’t be decided until after training camp. Joni Ortio, a member of the bronze medal-winning Finnish National Junior Team, also displayed the qualities that made him a sixth round selection by the Flames in the 2009 draft.

Well, it may have vacation time for your casual correspondent, it was definitely business as usual down at Flames Central. The club continues to adjust, update and tweak the roster, adding muscle, skill and youth to the brigade. Wayne Primeau’s toughness was dispatched to Toronto in exchange for forward Colin Stuart, a former Atlanta Thrasher draft selection and a member of the 2008 Calder Cup-winning Chicago Wolves and defenseman Anton Stralman, who has collected 22 points in 88 NHL games. The club claimed Nigel Dawes, a rambunctious 5′9″ keg of dynamite who split the 2008-09 campaign between the NY Rangers and Phoenix brings a gritty spirit ( 115 PIM) and deft scoring scoring (10 goals and 19 points) to the table, off waivers – a move which may pay unexpected dividends. In total, Calgary added 12 new faces to the roster and all of them will begin their quest to don the Flaming “C” when the training camp opens in early September. The Flames’ first exhibition tilt is slated for September 15th at the ‘dome when the club tackles their inter-provincial rivals – the Edmonton Oilers. In total, Calgary will play seven pre-season matches, including a pair of practice pursuits against the Vancouver Canucks. The club opens the 2009-10 campaign at home against the aforementioned Canucks on Thursday, October 1. Calgary plays eight of it’s first 12 games on home ice, giving the club an ideal chance to start the campaign on fire.

Tags: Anton Stralman, Brett Sutter, Colin Stuart, Greg Nemisz, Keith Seabrook, Leland Irving, Matt Keetley, Mikael Backlund, Mitch Wahl, Nigel Dawes, Ryley Grantham, T.J. Brodie, Tim Erixon, Wayne Primeau