[Canada 02]

https://calgaryherald.com/sports/hoc...-hometown-team

As a collegian, one of his calling cards was his handiwork at the faceoff dot.

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In 2023-24, before he transferred from the Rochester Institute of Technology to North Dakota for his final year of eligibility, he won a grand total of 566 draws in 40 games, the second-highest total in the NCAA that season.

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This past winter, he swiped 54.4% of his faceoffs in conference action with the Fighting Hawks. That’s the exact same success rate as Denver Pioneers captain Carter King, another local lad and a name that many Flames fans have identified as their preferred target in college free agency.

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King’s decision will wait until mid-April as the pivot prospect is once again off to the Frozen Four, where the powerhouse Pioneers will be shooting for their third title in a four-year span.

Wilkie is an above-average skater and, while he doesn’t project as a prolific scorer in the pros, he posted a pair of point-per-game campaigns at RIT before contributing nine goals and nine assists in 38 outings as a senior with the Fighting Hawks. He worked on both the power-play and penalty-kill units at North Dakota and often was tapped for duties in the final minutes of close games.

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If his tryout with the Wrangles goes well, an AHL contract for next season is a definite possibility. If it goes really well and especially if the interest is ratcheted up, perhaps he could push for a two-way deal.