Calgary Flames, Best Team At Young Stars Classic Tournament

The Young Stars Classic Tournament weekend came to a close on Monday night as the Calgary Flames took on the Canucks. But first the Calgary team had to get past the Winnipeg Jets on Friday and the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

The first game was a burst of young talent as the Calgary Flames young stars started off with a bang. The Markus Granlund line stood out as the goal-scorers while Joni Ortio stood solid in net. Johnny Gaudreau did what he does best and tallied another typical Johnny Hockey goal while other notable mentions on ice were Morgan Klimchuk and Sam Bennett. The final score was 6-4 for the Flames.

The second game, against the Oilers on Saturday was a little tougher of a battle for the Alberta teams. There was a lot of back and forth play but it was Sam Bennett who made the biggest impact with his quick hands and fast feet. Mason McDonald started in net while, again, Gaudreau pulled out the magic to keep the game close. The truculence was in full force as Hunter Smith and Keegan Kanzig each got in separate fights, showing the Flames organization just what they’re capable of. It was a chippy, gritty game against the Edmonton team, and the Flames’ Battle Of Alberta rivals squeaked by with a 4-3 win.

Last night, during the Flames final game against the Vancouver Canucks, Mason McDonald stood steady in net while the Granlund, Michael Ferland, Josh Jooris line packed another powerful punch. Smith had another fight and tallied a goal while Kanzig threw some big punches as well. Late in the third, Bennett left the bench with a minor injury which was later seemed precautionary. Nearing the end of the game, the Canucks were rattled and they took it out on Johnny Gaudreau as the Canucks’ Corrado laid an elbow on our Johnny Hockey. It took Gaudreau a while to get up, but he shook it off and made his way to the bench as Ferland took a stand against Corrado. It was the final smackdown as the Flames tallied two more goals late in the period to take a 6-1 win.

These are the types of games that give Flames fans the hope for a better future for the team. With the likes of Bennett, Granlund, Ortio, and Gaudreau (as well as many others), the hope is alive among Calgary Flames fans and rightfully so.

My 1 Star
Playing 7 games last season for Calgary and earning 2 goals and 1 assist, 21 year old Finnish forward Markus Granlund proved he has skill and talent that the team needs. If he doesn’t make a roster spot this season in the NHL, I’d be surprised. He’s crafty on the ice and is an important part of each play. He has good position on the ice and he plays smart. The Flames need players like Granlund in their organization.

Notable mention – Michael Ferland. He had 6 goals and 12 assists in 25 games last year with the Abbotsford Heat (now the Adirondack Flames) and he made his presence known during the tournament in Penticiton, British Columbia. At 6’2″ and 215lbs, Ferland is a powerful winger who is intimidated by no one. He made a case for himself as a strong, influential, gritty player who will stand up for the rest of the team, as was the situation when he got chucked out of the last game in the third period for confronting Corrado after the Canucks’ player hit Gaudreau.

Flames fans have a lot to be excited about as the young stars proved their worth many times over this past weekend. And I’m really looking forward to writing about the team again this season because I think it will be a year of many positive changes for the organization.

Go Flames Go!