You can call affiliate head coach Trent Cull “Walter White” as his prospect-based roster was clearly having some chemistry issues in game one for the Flames in the Penticton Young Stars Classic.

The Calgary group found themselves depending on transition for most of three periods. That, more or less, means they weren’t dictating much on the ice. Vancouver did far more puck carrying and it translated to a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes and an eventual 7-1 final. The first period ended 2-19 in shots. Yowza.

Much of this is due to the contrast of experience between the Vancouver and Calgary groups. The Canucks rolled out Arshdeep Bains, Jacob Maillet, and the NHL-ready Akito Hirose while the Flames had mostly first-time attendees of the tournament.

In the same fashion as the Flames in last night’s game, today will be a bit of a dog’s breakfast of scouting notes.

Matthew Coronato
The 20 year old blue chip prospect was the victim of a few rough passes, but his line built a bit of chemistry as the game went on. Coronato looked easily strong enough to stay on his feet against the opposition. You would expect his shot to be the story of the game, but it was his passing and ability to switch lanes with the puck that shone in game one.

William Stromgren
A big kid who needs to get quicker than he was in game one, which may just be a combination of nerves and rust. He was caught on the wrong side of the puck on the forecheck a few times.

Huge gaffe on the first goal against. Stromgren gave point man Vilmer Alriksson all the time in the world to tee up a shot. He’ll need to learn to press the point a little quicker, but that’s simply a growing pain that playing on smaller ice leads to.

On his shift after the goal against, he threw a big hit on the forecheck. There is certainly some compete in him. When he got the puck in open ice he would take off flying and weaving. The 20 year old simply needs to get used to the smaller ice surface and acclimate himself to making more concise plays in-tight.

Etienne Morin
The 18 year old has a sneaky fake, double fake breaking out the puck. Looks very composed. His gap control disrupted a couple of rushes before they could pick up speed.

Got caught up high on the third Vancouver goal. Just mistakes that younger prospects are prone to.

Parker Bell
Parker has an excellent knack for getting on defencemen. Whether it’s on the defensive blue line or on the forecheck. There may be a higher ceiling, but Bell looks like he could hang in as a penalty kill specialist already. The 19 year old is a fun one to watch. At one point in the second period, Bell beat two Vancouver defencemen and dished the puck to Adam Klapka for a shot opportunity.

Jaden Lipinski
Raw, but there is a strong puck pursuit aspect to his game. The 18 year old is years away, but he had an OK game beyond a few penalties. The lanky center took a fairly weak tripping penalty late in the first period as well as early in the third. Both tripping calls were debatable but ones that the refs bit on.

Lipinski made up for the first penalty in the second period on a play where he handled the puck through the low slot. Chaos ensued and the puck found it’s way to Klapka who had three clean seconds in the low slot to make a shot. Ciona puts away the rebound and it’s 2-1.

Luca Ciona
Contributed on a few opportunities in tight to the net including a goal in period one. He fought 22 year old Wilcox, Saskatchewan product Quinn Schmiemann and overpowered the 6’2” 206lb defenceman. The two stayed on their feet, but Luca was beginning to ragdoll his opponent when the linemen stepped in.

He and Klapka started making noise in scrums as the game went on. The two may have a bit of of Bash Brothers dynamic in the AHL this season.

Yan Kuznetsov
Good breakout passing. Solid physical presence. Not too far away from competing for an NHL spot. Kuznetsov was Calgary’s best defenceman in the blowout loss.

Mark Duarte
Looks like he’ll fit in on the AHL team quickly. Smart decision maker. Has a bit of a Tony Amonte-style board game. In his first powerplay shift, the 20 year old dished a smooth board rebound pass while spinning then headed right to the net for the tip. No goal on the play, but there is a lot to like about the 20 year old signee’s game.

Samuel Honzek
Tried to do a lot with his speed and size. Needs to simplify his game a bit when he has the puck. Threw a few big hits. The 2023 first round pick has plenty of tools but seemed to be white-knuckling his first game of the tournament.

Jerrod Gourley
A big hit in the early second on the penalty-drawing Will Sasson. The 24 year old Calgary native had a strong, quiet game.

Adam Klapka
Generated a couple of turnovers off of hits. Could do with carrying the puck a little longer. Not much chemistry on the Ciona-Lipinski-Klapka line. Early second period penalty. Very weak call. 23 year old Canucks forward prospect Max Sasson chicken winged Klapka stick and drew the call.

Klapka moved to center during the second period. Lipinski slotted to the right side.

Akito Hirose
Due to finishing up his fourth year of University, Hirose was a candidate to play in Penticton. The 24 year old really didn’t need to be there. His passing game was sublime and a major reason the Canucks dominated possession.

Hirose had three points and was +4 in seven games with the Canucks last season. He’s NHL-ready and was, naturally, the best player on the ice.

Rory Kerins
There is a very sharp, competitive aspect to the 21 year old’s game. His office appears to be along the boards. He carries the puck fearlessly through traffic. If he improves on his first few steps a bit more — he’s going to be a dangerous player at the pro level.

The Flames prospects take on the Oilers prospects tonight with the broadcast starting at 8:15.

Flames lineup
Bell-Kerins-Coronato
Honzek-Lipinski-Klapka
Ciona-Pilling-Stromgren
Tulk-Nikolaev-Duarte

Kuznetsov-Morin
Gourley-Diotte
Mantei-McCoy

Murphy
Kykkanen

Oilers lineup
There appears to be some slacking off up the QE2 Highway. No projected lineup so far. We’ll get that posted as soon as it becomes available.

Will Trent “Walter White” Cull be able to get more chemistry out of his prospect group? Will first round pick Samuel Honzek perform better with Adam Klapka making space for him? Will Etienne Morin perform better defensively with the sound Yan Kuznetsov as his D partner? You’ll have to tune in to find out — or just stop in tomorrow for a breakdown.


Puck drops at 8:30.

Trevor Neufeld

@Trevor_Neufeld


Stats via eliteprospects.com.

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