Calgary Flames Prospects Named To Team Canada Summer Camp

By Ken MacMillan | Jun 23, 2015

Two Calgary Flames prospects will be attending Team Canada’s World Under-20 Summer Evaluation Camp, Hockey Canada announced today. 194 of Canada’s top young players will attend the camp which will run from July 29th to August 6th at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

Canada is combining the summer evaluation camps of three teams, the U-17, U-18 and U-20 programs will all head to Calgary this summer for the nine day camp. The majority of the players will be in the Under-17 program, as 111 of those attending fit in that category, while 43 are in the Under-18 team and 40 are invited to the Under-20 team camp which will be used to choose the team that will represent Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Finland.

Included in the World Junior Championship conversation are a pair of players draft by the Calgary Flames. Goaltender Mason McDonald and defenceman Brandon Hickey will be trying out for the prestigious squad in their future NHL city.

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McDonald is a goaltender for the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and was taken in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft, 36th overall. The 6’4″ 200 pound netminder had a fantastic season for the Islanders, posting a 28-22-4 record, a 3.06 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.

The numbers put up by the 18 year old don’t jump off the page at you, but in the high scoring QMJHL, his .906 SV% was the second best by all goaltenders. McDonald is one of only three goalies invited to the U-20 camp along with MacKenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts and Samuel Montembeault of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

Hickey is among the 13 defenders invited to the event, but just being on the short list for the World Junior team shows the Flames got a steal in the draft. Hickey was taken with the 64th overall pick in the third round of the 2014 draft and the Leduc, Alberta native played well enough in his Freshman year of College to get on Team Canada’s radar.

Hickey scored six goals and 17 points in 41 games playing for a deep Boston University team that featured Jack Eichel. Hickey suited up for Team Pacific at the World Under-17 tournament two years ago, scoring a goal and two assists in five contests.

McDonald has an excellent chance to make this team, but Hickey is a bit of a longer shot on a crowded blue line. That’s really just due to the numbers game, but a strong camp in Calgary and a good start to his second season with Boston University could see a pair of future Flames suiting up for Team Canada who will be trying to defend their gold medal win.

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