Calgary Flames announce 2023-24 prospect training camp roster and schedule

Friends, it’s finally time for hockey to return.

The Calgary Flames released the roster and schedule for their 2023-24 prospect training camp on Monday. The bulk of said camp will see the Flames participate in the 2023 edition of the Young Stars Classic tournament in Penticton!

Let’s dive into the roster and schedule!

The Flames invited 25 players to camp. Among the notables appearing for the Flames include 2023 first-rounder Samuel Honzek, 2021 first-rounder Matt Coronato, second-rounders Etienne Morin (2023) and William Strömgren (2021), and 2020 third-rounder Jeremie Poirier!

Goaltenders (3)

(College prospect Arsenii Sergeev is already at school, while Russian prospect Yegor Yegorov has already begun his season.)

The three goaltenders who were at development camp are back! Murphy and Radomsky have AHL deals for this season, Kykkanen does not. All three are new faces, and none of the goalies from last year’s Penticton roster are back this year.

Defensemen (9)

(College prospect Jake Boltmann is back at school, while Axel Hurtig is recovering from shoulder surgery – it’s unclear if he’s going to be playing in Sweden or with the Hitmen, but his season will have a delayed start regardless of where he lands.)

The Flames have three of their own prospects in camp: Kuznetsov and Poirier (both returning from 2022’s Penticton roster) and Morin, who’s newly-drafted. The remainder of the blueline group are returnees from development camp. Keep an eye on Gourley: he’s already got an AHL deal and played in the ECHL All-Star Game a year ago.

Forwards (13)

(Topi Rönni has started his season in Finland, Cade Littler is about to start his USHL season, and Aydar Suniev is already at college.)

The forward group has a lot of interesting players this year. Back from last year’s Penticton roster are Bell, Ciona, Kerins, Klapka and Nikolaev. It’s the first crack at Penticton for Coronato and Honzek, as well as Lipinski and Strömgren. If Coronato’s going to carve out an NHL roster spot, his journey will start with an impressive tournament.

Meanwhile, Ciona’s 20 and has an NHL deal. But Bell is about to turn 20, and he’s not yet signed. Bell has a legitimate shot at an entry-level deal with a good week or two in camp.

The schedule

The prospects do medicals and fitness testing, then hit the ice for the first time at Winsport on Thursday before jetting off to B.C.

The Flames will play three games in Penticton, with all three games carried on the Flames website (as per previous years, within the Flames broadcast region) and Sportsnet 960 The Fan:

• Fri., Sept. 15: Flames vs. Canucks (8:30 p.m. MT)
• Sat., Sept. 16: Flames vs. Oilers (8:30 p.m. MT)
• Mon., Sept. 18: Flames vs. Jets (11 a.m. MT)