2017-18 Flames' CHL Prospects, General Discussion

[sureLoss]

Flames have the following potential CHL prospects

QMJHL
RW D'Artagnan Joly - 6th round 2017
Baie-Comeau Drakkar
The Drakkar are not know for being a strong QMJHL program and Joly appears to have injured his back in the offseason.


OHL
C Adam Ruzicka - 4th round 2017
Sarnia Sting
Ruzicka had an inconsistent year in the OHL last season. Hopefully he shows better in his 2nd year with the Sting. No doubt he has the hands and size for the NHL. Hopefully he gets to spend some time with Jordan Kyrou on his wing.

G Tyler Parsons - 2nd round 2016
London Knights
While it is possible for the Flames to send him back to London, it seems very unlikely as he has little left to prove at the major junior level.
In any case London was ranked #7 in the CHL pre season rankings, and always a strong program if he somehow ends up back there.


WHL
G Nick Schneider - free agent signing
Calgary Hitmen
After a rough year with the Medicine Hat Tigers will be under the close eye of Flames management with the Calgary Hitmen. He might even get buried with all the prospect goaltending depth the Flames find themselves with right now

RW/C Matthew Phillips - 6th round 2016
Victoria Royals
Phillips will be going for back to back 50 goal seasons and hopefully lead goal scoring in the WHL

LW/C Dillon Dube - 2nd round 2016
Kelowna Rockets
Assuming he gets sent back to Kelowna, expect big things from him as he looked good in camp. Expected to play a big role on Canada's WJC team as a returning player. Kelowna was an honourable mention for the CHL top 10 pre-season rankings so should have a good year too.

D Juuso Valimaki - 1st round 2017
Tri City Americans
Tri-City was ranked 8th in the CHL pre-season rankings. Valimaki as a natural leader and will get top pairing minutes with Americans will be expected to have a big year. The only question is how much longer can the CHL still prove to be a challenge for him.

RW Zach Fischer - 5th round 2017
Medicine Hat Tigers
Fischer was eligible to play in the AHL/ECHL this season, but Flames managment decided to send him back to major junior. Should dominate the WHL as a 20 year old and build on his 34g + 29 assist season

Note: Tuulola decided to go back to Finland after one season with the Silvertips

[sureLoss]

Season already started for some.

Joly still injured and did not dress

Ruzicka had 2a +2 in a 4-3 SO win. Highlights
1gp 0g 2a +2

Schneider made 28 saves on 31 shots in a 3-2 loss to Kootenay Highlights
1gp 3.06gaa .903sv%

Fischer did not play in Hat's 5-2 loss to Lethbridge

Phillips had a hat trick in a 7-1 drubbing of the Giants, on pace for 216 goals this season Highlights
1gp 3g 1a 4pts +3

[Gaudreau is a Ninja]

Atta boy Phillips!!!

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Phillips could have a pretty crazy year for points

[sureLoss]

Joly and Fischer still injured.

Nick Schneider made 24 stops on 25 shots for a 3-1 Hitmen win over Kootenay Highlights
2gp 2.02GAA .929sv%

Phillips had 2 assists in a 6-1 win over the Giants Highlights not available yet
2gp 3g 3a 6pts +3

Ruzicka had 0 pts -1 and 5 shots on goal in a 3-1 loss to Kitchner Highlights
2gp 0g 2a 2pts +1

[Freeway]

Slight correction; Tuulola I believe wanted to go back to Everett, but he was pulled back to Finland by HPK.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Slight correction; Tuulola I believe wanted to go back to Everett, but he was pulled back to Finland by HPK.

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/tuul...on/c-290314390

"I still have an active pro contract there," Tuulola explained. "And of course, I want to play with the pros, the professionals. That's why I chose to go back."

[sureLoss]

With the Flames returning Dube and Valimaki to junior, Kelowna's next game is Friday and tri-city is on Saturday.

[sureLoss]

Sarnia scored 6 unanswered goals to win 6-2 over Kingston Highlights
Ruzicka had 2g 1a and named 2nd star
3gp 2g 3a 5pts +1

Takes less than 2 minutes for Valimaki to get an assist in his first WHL game of the season. And he has just picked up his 2nd assist on the goal that ties the game at 3.
Valimaki just scored a huge goal to tie the game 4-4 with 3 minutes to play in the game
Americans end up winning 5-4 in regulation. Valimaki named 1st star.
1gp 1g 2a 3pts +3


Royals win 4-3 over the Blazers
Phillips 0g 3a -1 7sog. Also of note Phillips is wearing the C for Victoria this season. Phillips named 3rd star
3gp 3g 6a 9pts +2

Joly (injured) and Fischer (played last game, maybe reagrivated) did not dress. edit: Schneider did not dress either

Kelowna did not play tonight. Dube played last night where he was held pointless +1 in his first game of the season. Note that Rockets are using Dube as a centre.

[sureLoss]

Big game for Valimaki as noted above.

Can't wait to see the highlights.

[bigrangy]

http://amshockey.com/video/ams-vs-si...ighlights-9-30

highlights of Valimaki

[1991 Canadian]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

http://amshockey.com/video/ams-vs-si...ighlights-9-30

highlights of Valimaki

Damn. The Valimaki goal @1:20 is a beauty.

[sureLoss]

Ruzicka had 2g 1a in a 6-5 SO win over Owen Sound.
Named 2nd star. Highlights
5gp 4g 4a 8pts +4

[sureLoss]

Rockets - 3 Royals - 8

Phillips 3a +3 Named 2nd star.
5gp 3g 10a 13pts +6
Phillips currently leads the WHL with 13 points.

Dube 1g -1
2gp 1g 0a 1pts even

edit: Highlights

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Ruzicka had 2g 1a in a 6-5 SO win over Owen Sound.
Named 2nd star. Highlights
5gp 4g 4a 8pts +4

some really nice moves there.

he's off to a very good start

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Ruzicka had 2g 1a in a 6-5 SO win over Owen Sound.
Named 2nd star. Highlights
5gp 4g 4a 8pts +4

Oh my! Could Ruzicka end up being a steal?

[Johnny Rotten]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Oh my! Could Ruzicka end up being a steal?

Jeez, it would be nice if one (or more) of these guys (Dube, Fox, Parsons, Rucizka, etc.) turned out to be a steal. I don't even care who or what position. Just someone who can make a difference.

[sureLoss]

Adam Ruzicka continues his hot start with another 2g +2 5sog in a 4-1 win over Barrie. He also won 13/18 faceoffs. Named 2nd star.
6gp 6g 4a 10pts +6 29SOG 58.2%Faceoffs

Ruzicka is currently tied for 2nd in the OHL for points and tied for 3rd in OHL goals at the time this was originally posted

edit: Highlights

[sureLoss]

Schneider made 32 saves on 33 shots in 1-0 loss to Everett. 3rd star
4gp 2.72gaa .908sv% 1w 2l 1otl 0sol

Zach Fischer scored a goal in a 4-2 win over Regina. Also picked up a fighting major and diving penalty Highlights
2gp 1g 0a 1pts +1 11pim

Phillips has 1a in a 4-1 win over the Blazers. Phillips has a 6 game point streak going. Highlights
6gp 3g 11a 14pts +6
At time of original posting Phillips 3rd in WHL points and tied for 1st in WHL assists. Interesting how Phillips has suddenly gone from goalscorer to playmaker in the last few games.

Dube had 1g 3a 4pts even 7 sog in a 7-6 OT win over Prince George. Dube assisted on the OT goal Highlights
3gp 2g 3a 5pts even

Valimaki has an assist in a 6-3 loss to Vancouver. Tri Cities with a huge melt down in the 3rd period, giving up 3 goals within a few minutes late in the 3rd. Highlights
3gp 1g 3a 4pts -1

[sureLoss]

double post