With most prospects almost done for the holiday break, it was a bit quieter a week for North American Calgary Flames prospects. The Calgary Wranglers remain highly competitive in the AHL’s Pacific Division, and with a minor league strike looming, ECHL hockey might have played its final games of 2025.
Let’s take a look at everything in the system for the Calgary Flames.
Welcome to the TWC Calgary Flames prospect update. Each week, we’ll dive into how the Flames prospects have done in their respective leagues, along with a feature on one standout prospect in Calgary’s system. We have defined a prospect as a skater who has played fewer than 65 NHL games and was born in 2001 or later.
Parker Bell, F, Calgary Wranglers
It’s no secret that the former WHL alumni and 2022 fifth-round pick has struggled this season with the Calgary Wranglers, going -8 and only putting up his first point of the season this past week across 23 games.
The 2003-born forward enters his second season with the Wranglers, where he largely plays a bottom-six role and occasionally as a penalty killer. So far into the 2025–26 campaign, he averages 11:43 of TOI per game, with 0:48 of that coming from his penalty kill role.
Who is Parker Bell?
Originally from Estevan, Saskatchewan, the 2003-born forward found a home in the WHL after being drafted by the Tri-City Americans in the fifth round of the 2018 WHL draft. From there, he attracted NHL attention in his NHL draft year, putting up 49 points across 64 games in the 2021–22 season.
The 6’5″ forward plays a distinct two-way forward game that is highlighted by an absolutely relentless motor/compete level, decent defensive senses, and evident physicality with some moderate puck skills.
The two-way forward largely serves as a play supporter in all three zones. In the offensive zone, Bell has found a niche as a net-front presence with his tall frame, good balance, and quality grit.
Defensively, the Wrangler is not scared of slowing plays down along the boards and employs adequate risk assessment and awareness (when the play is established in the zone).
Why is Bell struggling?
One of his largest areas of struggle is his inability to keep up with plays. His top speed, crossover power, and edgework continue to be an issue at the professional level. It’s actually quite hard to hide. His lateral acceleration often means he is last to join plays in the defensive zone.
This skating and pace becomes particularly evident on the defensive forecheck as it decreases his angles of attack, and generally means he’s chasing plays. Additionally, when Bell isn’t chasing plays, his discipline is inconsistent, which means he spends roughly 1:19 per game in the box.
Pace and speed are also issues in offensive transition, and as a result, Bell has evolved his puck skills game to compensate as more of a give-and-go play mover, but lacks finish.
Bell’s finishing is another element to his struggles, as the forward still generates 1.08 scoring chances a game, but has a historically low 3.7% conversion rate. Talk about not getting the bounces he needs.
He just can’t string plays together and complete them. This limited finishing isn’t helped by poorer shooting, which showcases below-average deception, a stiffer release, and a lower end accuracy at 59%.
What does Bell need to do?
Bell has some hidden hockey IQ, solid situational awareness, good hit absorption, which limits losses of momentum and an abundance of hustle. With improvements to his skating and shooting, it could elevate his game to another level.
The Canadian forward just needs to keep generating chances, and eventually his 3.7% conversion rate should go up. An increase in conversion would translate to him finding the scoresheet more and help build his confidence.
Calgary Flames prospect updates
AHL
- The Wranglers had mixed results this week, splitting their two games against the San Diego Gulls. They fell 4–3 in overtime on December 19, but rebounded with a 2–1 win on the 21st.
- The Wranglers have a 14–10–6 record, and are tied for third in the AHL’s Pacific Division.
- In his AHL debut on the 21st, goaltender Arsenii Sergeev had a stellar performance, stopping 51 of 52 shots he faced all night. Maybe half a season with Rapid City did him good brining him up to speed on the pro-game.
- Forward Parker Bell also found the scoresheet for the first time this season, with the third Wranglers goal in the December 19th game against the Gulls.
- Veteran forward Dryden Hunt was reassigned to the Wranglers on the 18th. Fellow veteran forward Justin Kirkland got the call-up to the Flames on the 18th as well.
ECHL
- The ECHL players’ association are intending to strike, which could influence roster decisions. As of Tuesday, December 23rd, the Calgary Flames have no players assigned to the Rapid City Rush. This strike is in response to what the players see as inadequate rest days, community engagement without compensation, and low wages.
- The Rapid City Rush went 1–2–0 this past week in a trio of games against the Idaho Steelheads. This week was highlighted by a pair of ugly 7–1 losses on the 17th and 20th. They did sneak out a 4–3 win in between on the 19th.
- The Rush are tied for fifth in the ECHL’s Mountain Division with 26 points, and a 12–13–2 record.
- The Rush lost a trio of players this past week: defenders Arvils Bergmanis, Mike Van Unen, and forward Johnny Curran. 37-year-old veteran forward Garret Klotz signed with the team on December 16.
NCAA
- NCAA men’s hockey is now on their holiday break, expect the league to resume after Christmas.
OHL
- 2024 second-round forward, Jacob Battaglia, appeared in one game this past week, a 4–2 victory over the Brampton Steelheads on the 20th. In the third period, Battaglia got a 5-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct.
WHL
- 2023 seventh-round defender Axel Hurtig built on his momentum from last week and is now on a four-game point streak. The defensive shutdown defender wracked up an assist in a 9–2 victory over Swift Current on December 17, and another one in the Hitmen’s 3–2 OT loss to Brandon on the 19th.
- Net front presence Hunter Laing played only one game this past week, a 3–2 SOL to the Kelowna Rockets on the 17th. Laing, serving as a power-forward play supporter, found the scoresheet with an assist.
Russia
- 2020 fourth-round goaltender Daniil Chechelev started one game on the 20th against Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk in a 5–4 losing effort. Chechelev has already made the jump to North America in the 2021–2023 timeframe and largely served in an ECHL capacity. Don’t expect him to make the jump again anytime soon.
- A mixed results week for goaltender Kirill Zarubin. He split a pair of games with a 5–1 loss to MHK Spartak Moskva on the 19th, and a 6–2 win against MHK Spartak-MAH Moskva on the 22nd. He stopped a combined 64 of 71 shots he faced.
Forwards
| Player | Position | GP | G | A | P | P/GP | PIM | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rory Kerins | C/LW | 27 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 0,93 | 12 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Cullen Potter | C/LW | 18 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 0.89 | 12 | Arizona State University | NCAA |
| Cade Littler | C/RW | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0.50 | 22 | University of North Dakota | NCAA |
| Hunter Laing | C/RW | 31 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 1.00 | 14 | Saskatoon Blades | WHL |
| Carter King | C/LW | 26 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0.15 | 2 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Cole Reschny | C/LW | 16 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 1.13 | 2 | University of North Dakota | NCAA |
| Jaden Lipinski | C/RW | 17 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0.47 | 27 | University of Maine | NCAA |
| Luke Misa | C/LW | 16 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.19 | 0 | Penn State University | NCAA |
| Trevor Hoskins | RW/C | 16 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 1.06 | 2 | Merrimack College | NCAA |
| Theo Stockselius | C/LW | 7 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 1.29 | 4 | Djurgårdens IF U20 | U20 Nat |
| Yan Matveiko | C | 29 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 0.97 | 8 | Krasnaya Armiya Moskva | MHL |
| William Stromgren | LW/RW | 27 | 2 | 18 | 20 | 0.74 | 16 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Matvei Gridin | LW/RW | 28 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 0.89 | 10 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Lucas Ciona | LW/RW | 21 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.14 | 36 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Parker Bell | LW/RW | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.04 | 23 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Andrew Basha | LW/RW | 24 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.21 | 23 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Jacob Battaglia | LW/RW | 32 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 0.72 | 35 | Kingston Frontenacs | OHL |
| Aydar Suniev | LW/RW | 25 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 0.36 | 4 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Ethan Wyttenbach | LW/RW | 18 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 1.39 | 6 | Quinnipiac University | NCAA |
| Aiden Lane | RW/LW | 11 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0.55 | 10 | Harvard University | NCAA |
Defence
| Player | GP | G | A | P | P/GP | PIM | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Poirier | 23 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.22 | 18 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Etienne Morin | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.08 | 2 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Artyom Grushnikov | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Jacob Leander | 22 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0.27 | 43 | HV71 | U20 Nat |
| Axel Hurtig | 28 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0.29 | 23 | Calgary Hitmen | WHL |
| Henry Mews | 10 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0.90 | 6 | University of Michigan | NCAA |
| Eric Jamieson | 19 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 0.68 | 35 | University of Denver | NCAA |
| Mace’o Phillips | 17 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.24 | 68 | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL |
Goaltenders
| Player | GP | GAA | SV% | Record | SO | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenii Sergeev | 1 | 1.00 | .981 | 1-0-0 | 0 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Owen Say | 15 | 3.24 | .894 | 5-5-5 | 1 | Calgary Wranglers | AHL |
| Yegor Yegorov | 17 | 2.91 | .923 | 7-7-0 | 0 | MHK Spartak-MAH Moskva | MHL |
| Kirill Zarubin | 25 | 1.88 | .936 | 16-6-0 | 3 | AKM Tula | MHL |
| Daniil Chechelev | 4 | 2.70 | .915 | 2–1-1 | 0 | Olimpiya Kirovo-Chepetsk | VHL |
