For the first time in awhile, the Calgary Flames will be represented by players on multiple teams at the Memorial Cup!
The crowning tournament of Canadian major junior hockey takes place over the next 10 days in Rimouski, Quebec, and it pits the host Oceanic against the champions of the three regional junior leagues. The Flames will be represented by 2024 second-round pick Andrew Basha (of the Medicine Hat Tigers) and 2023 second-round pick Etienne Morin (of the Moncton Wildcats).
Which prospect will be hoisting the Memorial Cup on June 1? Let’s handicap this year’s tournament.
Qualification: Won WHL’s Ed Chynoweth Cup as league’s playoff champions, eliminating Swift Current, Prince Albert, Lethbridge and Spokane.
NHL prospects [8]: G Harrison Meneghin (Lightning), D Tanner Molendyk (Predators), D Niilopekka Muhonen (Stars), D Veeti Vaisanen (Mammoth), F Andrew Basha (Flames), F Cayden Lindstrom (Blue Jackets), F Ryder Ritchie (Wild) and F Hunter St. Martin (Panthers)
2025 draft prospects: D Bryce Pickford, D Jonas Woo
The Tigers have had a very good season despite missing some key players due to injuries. But they’ve gotten healthy at the right time, getting Basha and Lindstrom back for the league final series. As a result, Medicine Hat boasts a team with a ton of depth across all positions. Oh, and presumptive 2026 top prospect Gavin McKenna, too.
Qualification: Won OHL’s J. Ross Robertson Cup as league’s playoff champions, eliminating Owen Sound, Erie, Kitchener and Oshawa.
NHL prospects [12]: D Cam Allen (Capitals), D Oliver Bonk (Flyers), D Sam Dickinson (Sharks), D Jared Woolley (Kings), F Denver Barkley (Flyers), F Easton Cowan (Maple Leafs), F Kasper Halttunen (Sharks), F Jacob Julien (Jets), F Blake Montgomery (Senators), F William Nicholl (Oilers), F Jesse Nurmi (Islanders) and F Sam O’Reilly (Oilers)
2025 draft prospects: D Henry Brzustewicz (younger brother of Flames prospect Hunter Brzustewicz), G Alexei Medvedev
The Knights have been an absolute hockey factory for years, consistently winning championships and sending players to the NHL in equal measure. It sounds kind of dismissive, but there’s not a ton that differentiates this year’s powerhouse Knights from previous editions: they’re always good and always incredibly dangerous.
Qualification: Won QMJHL’s Gilles-Courteau Trophy as league’s playoff champions, eliminating Quebec, Baie-Comeau, Rouyn-Noranda and Moncton.
NHL prospects [7]: G Rudy Guimond (Red Wings), D Dyllan Gill (Lightning), D Luke Johansson (Bruins), D Dylan MacKinnon (Predators), D Etienne Morin (Flames), F Juraj Pekarcik (Blues) and F Gabe Smith (Mammoth)
2025 draft prospects: F Caleb Desnoyers
The Wildcats were consistently one of the better team in the Q all season, and they managed to avoid slipping on any banana peels in the post-season. They arguably lack as many high-end weapons that Medicine Hat or London have, but Moncton’s top-to-bottom depth is really effective – they’re a really consistent group that can attack in waves. And there are few players in hockey that have been on the hot streak that Desnoyers has been on through the Q’s playoffs.
Qualification: Memorial Cup host; lost to Moncton in QMJHL championship series.
NHL prospects [6]: D Luke Coughlin (Panthers), D Spencer Gill (Flyers), D Basile Sansonnens (Canucks), F Alexandre Blais (Ducks), F Mathieu Cataford (Golden Knights) and F Eriks Mateiko (Capitals)
2025 draft prospects: no major ones
The Oceanic are, on paper, the weakest team in this event. But they still pushed a strong Moncton team in the QMJHL’s championship series. Do they have the high-end skill of the other three teams? Perhaps not. But they’re a well-rounded bunch that plays a really smart team game and are fully capable of beating strong teams. (Don’t believe us? Ask Moncton how tough an out Rimouski can be.)
All times are MT, and all games are on TSN.
We’ll have tons of updates on how the Flames’ prospects perform at the Memorial Cup as the tournament unfolds.
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