The first week of the post-season was a mixed bag for Calgary Flames prospects.
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">This is the Mar. 24-30 edition of the Calgary Flames prospect roundup, where we look at how Calgary Flames prospects did this past week, specifically those at the junior and college levels. The American Hockey League prospects have their own article in the Wranglers recaps.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s take a look at the week that was!</span>
<h2>Zayne Parekh</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Personally, I’ve never skydived or bungee jumped or anything. I don’t need that adrenaline after the first two games of the Erie Otters and Zayne Parekh’s Saginaw Spirit first round match-up. After a scoreless first period in Game 1, the Otters scored seven goals in less than ten minutes.  The Spirit fought back, making it 8-2 before the break and adding three more in the third period for the Otters to take Game 1 by a score of 8-5. Parekh picked up two assists.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 2 was even crazier. The Otters were up 4-3 heading into the third period, and after a goal from the Otters and two from the Spirit, the game was 6-5. However, the Otters pulled away in the second half of the final frame as they scored three unanswered goals in the 9-5 win. Parekh had an assist, two minor penalties, and a misconduct as tempers flared. That’s playoff hockey.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The series shifts to Pennsylvania for Games 3 and 4, which are essentially must-win games for Parekh and the Spirit. Game 3 is on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. MT and Game 4 is on Thursday at the same time. If needed (let’s hope it is), Game 5 comes on Saturday, back in Michigan, at 5:05 p.m. MT.</span>
<h2>Matvei Gridin</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Looking at Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League action, Matvei Gridin and the Shawinigan Cataractes have won both games they’ve played against the Val-d’Or Foreurs, defeating them 3-2 in Game 1 and 5-2 in Game 2.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Gridin picked up an assist in Game 1, as the Foreurs took an early 2-1 lead in the third period. However, the Cataractes tied it up midway through the final frame before scoring with 5:59 left in the game to take it 3-2.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Flames’ first-round pick in 2024 had a better Game 2. Although the Foreurs opened the scoring, Gridin had the primary assists on goals two, three, and four, before icing the game with an empty-netter late in the third for the 5-2 victory.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">After winning both games in Shawinigan, the series shifts to Val-d’Or, which is unfortunate for all involved, given how out of the way the city is. Game 3 is set for Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. MT, Game 4 is the next day at the same time, and if needed, Game 5 is also in Val-d’Or at 5:00 p.m. MT on Friday.</span>
<h2><b>Andrew Basha</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrew Basha still isn’t back for the Flames. The latest update from </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Medicine Hat News’ </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">James Tubb is that he’ll be a “late-round add”.</span>

https://twitter.com/ReporterTubb/status/1903627952388214912

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Well, the Medicine Hat Tigers are off to a good start this post-season. Facing the eighth-seeded Swift Current Broncos, they defeated them 4-0 in Game 1, followed by a 6-3 victory in Game 2. It’s crazy that they’re already a powerhouse despite missing Basha and Cayden Lindstrom, the latter was picked fourth overall last draft.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The series shifts to Swift Current for Games 3 and 4. On Tuesday, Game 3 starts at 7:00 p.m. MT, followed by Game 4 the following day at the same time. If needed, Game 5 is on Friday in Medicine Hat at 7:00 p.m. MT, before returning to Swift Current on Sunday for Game 6 (if needed) at 5:00 p.m. MT.</span>
<h2>Jacob Battaglia &amp; Henry Mews</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Flames’ second-round pick, Jacob Battaglia, is up against Henry Mews in the first-round matchup. We’ll just combine these sections for the next two articles. Battaglia also made news recently, signing </span><a href="https://flamesnation.ca/news/flames-sign-2024-second-rounder-jacob-battaglia-to-entry-level-contract"><span style="font-weight: 400;">his entry-level contract with the Flames this past Saturday</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Battaglia’s Kingston Frontenacs hosted Mews’ Sudbury Wolves for Games 1 and 2. The first game saw the Frontenacs win 4-1, with Battaglia picking up two primary assists while Mews picked up an assist on the Wolves’ goal. Game 2 was closer, as the Frontenacs defeated the Wolves 4-3 in double overtime. Battaglia picked up his third primary assist of the series as well as a secondary assist while Mews was held off the scoreboard.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s do or die for the Wolves as the series shifts to Northern Ontario. Game 3 is on Tuesday at 5:05 p.m. MT, followed by Game 4 on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. MT. If needed, the two teams return to Kingston for Game 5 on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. MT.</span>
<h2>Kirill Zarubin</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Although Kirill Zarubin and the Tula Mikhailov Academy haven’t started their post-season campaign, their first-round opponent has been decided, as they play JHC Dynamo SPb.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dynamo SPb finished below Mikhailov Academy with a 33-16-4 record and 70 points. Game 1 begins April 7 at 9:30 AM MT. I’ll include that game in next week’s prospect roundup.</span>
<h2>Trevor Hoskin</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Trevor Hoskin has seemingly played his final game for Niagara University. According to </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grand Forks Herald’s</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Brad Elliott Schlossman, Hoskin has entered the transfer portal and is likely to move to a bigger university for his sophomore season.</span>

https://twitter.com/SchlossmanGF/status/1906384595798331650

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s hard to blame the 20-year-old. This season with the Purple Eagles, the Belleville, Ontario native scored 12 goals and 39 points in 36 games, winning the Atlantic Hockey America’s Rookie of the Year Award.</span>

https://twitter.com/Atlantic_Hockey/status/1902073094380155089

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Unfortunately for Hoskin and the Purple Eagles, they lost the best-of-three series against Army West Point, ending their season.</span>
<h2>Luke Misa</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Over his final 14 Ontario Hockey League games, Luke Misa scored just one goal. Well, the Brampton Steelheads finished fifth in the OHL’s Eastern Conference and have a first-round matchup against the Oshawa Generals. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In Game 1, they fell 7-4 with Misa picking up two assists (one primary). The second game of the series went far better, as the Generals won 3-1. Misa also scored his first post-season goal and picked up a primary helper to bring him to one goal and four points through two games.</span>

https://twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1906478085769506899

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The matchup between the Generals and Steelheads is the only one of eight different series in the OHL where the two teams split the first two games. On Tuesday, the series shifts to Brampton with a start time of 5:00 p.m. MT. Game 4 is also in Brampton, same start time. On Friday, the series returns to Oshawa for Game 5 with a 5:05 p.m. MT start time. If a Game 6 is needed, the series returns to Brampton with a 12:00 p.m. MT start time on Sunday.</span>
<h2>Hunter Laing and Axel Hurtig</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Although Hunter Laing and Axel Hurtig were late-round picks in two different seasons (2024 and 2023 respectively), their two teams are playing in the post-season, so we’ll combine their sections for the time being.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Hurtig’s Calgary Hitmen finished third in the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference, but had the second-best record. On the other hand, Laing’s Saskatoon Blades finished sixth in the conference. Game 1 in Calgary saw the Hitmen win 4-2, although Laing scored to make it 4-2. </span>

https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1905821984723976395

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The second game of the series wasn’t even close, as the Hitmen defeated the Blades 5-1 with 48 shots on net. Hurtig picked up an assist on an empty net goal for his first WHL point in the playoffs.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Games 3 and 4 shift to Saskatoon. As per usual, the two games in Saskatoon will be on back-to-back days on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a start time of 7:00 p.m. MT. If needed, the series will return to Calgary for Game 5 on Friday with a 7:00 p.m. MT start time. Game 6 would be on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. MT if it’s needed.</span>
<h2>Eric Jamieson</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The top-seeded Everett Silvertips have struggled against the eighth-seeded Seattle Thunderbirds. Game 1 saw them fall 3-2, with Flames’ prospect Eric Jamieson being held off the scoresheet (although he boarded a player).</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Thankfully, Game 2 went significantly better for Jamieson and the Silvertips. Sure, the Thunderbirds scored a game-tying goal with 30 seconds left in the game, but that doesn’t matter as Jamieson picked up the overtime goal and a primary assist on the opening goal. The Silvertips took this one 3-2.</span>

https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1906197224092242139

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 3 comes on Tuesday at 8:05 p.m. MT, followed by Game 4 on Friday at the same time. Both games will be played in Seattle, before the series returns to Everett on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. MT.</span>
<h2>Étienne Morin</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Like the Silvertips, the top-seeded Moncton Wildcats of the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League have run into a tough opponent in the first round.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Flames’ prospect Étienne Morin picked up an assist in Game 1, as the Wildcats needed overtime to get the job done against the Québec Remparts. On paper, Game 2 was a blowout as the Wildcats won 4-0, but it took until early in the third period for Morin to score the game-winning goal.</span>

https://twitter.com/Ryley__Delaney/status/1906576174769111104

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The series shifts to Québec City for the next three games. Game 3 is on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. MT, followed by Game 4 at 5:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday. If needed, Game 5 is on Friday at the same time as the other two games.</span>
<h2>Aydar Suniev</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Aydar Suniev had an eventful regional tournament, to say the least. Let’s start with the good.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">First up was a matchup against fifth-ranked Minnesota. After Minnesota jumped out to a 3-1 lead, Suniev scored UMass’s second goal, with UMass eventually taking the lead with under five minutes left in the game. St. Louis Blues prospect Jimmy Snuggerud scored to tie the game with just over three minutes left, but in overtime, Suniev scored to advance to the regional final.</span>

https://twitter.com/NCAAIceHockey/status/1905479549619479018

<span style="font-weight: 400;">UMass jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Western Michigan, but late in the second period, Suniev took two consecutive boarding penalties, with the last one being a five-minute major and a game misconduct. The momentum swung in Western Michigan’s favour, as they scored twice on the five-minute major with UMass failing to score the game-tying goal, falling 2-1 and missing out on a chance to go to the Frozen Four.</span>

https://twitter.com/clghkycentral/status/1906136306633109603

<span style="font-weight: 400;">For the season, the Flames’ third-round pick in 2023 finished with 20 goals and 38 points in 35 games. It’s to be determined if he signs his entry-level contract and turns professional or attends UMass or another school for his junior year.</span>
<h2>Jaden Lipinski</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Jaden Lipinski and the Vancouver Giants are in tough. Lipinski scored their only goal in a 4-1 loss in Game 1 against the Spokane Chiefs.</span>

https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1905810765862535380

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Game 2 was far crazier, though. Late in the first period, the Chiefs scored to give them the lead in the first intermission. The second period wasn’t even close, though, as the Chiefs scored four goals to take a 5-0 lead into the third period. It must’ve been the goalies' fault, right? Nope, draft-eligible netminder Burke Hood and Brady Smith faced </span><b>33 shots in the second period.</b>

https://twitter.com/Ryley__Delaney/status/1906580216400552150

<span style="font-weight: 400;">After an early Chiefs’ goal in the third period, the Giants fired off five unanswered goals to make it a 6-5 game. Unfortunately, the Chiefs buried an empty-netter to take the game 7-5. I turned the game off after the early third period goal from the Chiefs. Lipinski picked up an assist in this game, but it’s safe to say I missed a </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">really</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> good period.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The bad news for the Giants is that the next three games will be played in Spokane. Game 3 comes on Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. MT, with Game 4 coming the following day at the same start time. If needed, Game 5 is on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. MT. It’s safe to say the next two are must-win games for the Giants.</span>
<h2>Yegor Yegorov</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sadly, Aydar Suniev wasn’t the only Russian Flames prospect eliminated from playoff action. Moscow Krylya Sovetov played their best-of-three play-in games, but Flames’ prospect Yegor Yegorov didn’t play a single minute.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Facing Moscow JHC Dynamo M in the play-in round, they fell 3-2 in Game 1 thanks to a late goal from Bondar Artyom. They had a nice bounce-back game in Game 2, shutting them out to set up a winner-take-all Game 3. It didn’t go well, as Krylya Sovetov were throttled 10-4.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s unclear what happens next with Yegorov. In Russia’s junior league, he finished with a .904 save percentage and 3.14 goals-against average in 20 games played. The fact he wasn’t on the bench for any of the three games is interesting to say the least.</span>
<h2>Arsenii Sergeev</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s not all bad for the Flames’ Russian prospects, though. Specifically, Arsenii Sergeev has been terrific for Penn State all season long, especially in the National Tournament.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">After they were eliminated in heartbreaking fashion in the conference’s semifinal game, they were invited to participate in the National Tournament with a matchup against Maine. Penn State won that one 4-1, with the Russian netminder saving 26 of 27 shots for a .963 save percentage.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In the regional final, Sergeev took on his old team, UConn, with both teams looking to earn their first-ever Frozen Four placement. UConn opened the scoring, but Penn State managed to tie it. When UConn went up 2-1, Penn State answered almost immediately, sending the game to overtime. Sergeev made quite a handful of big saves, one of which can be seen below.</span>

https://twitter.com/Ryley__Delaney/status/1906494427025002667

<span style="font-weight: 400;">I started this beautiful, lovely series that is a favourite of mine to write on Jan. 11, covering games from Jan. 4 until Jan. 10. Coming into that week, the Nittany Lions had an in-conference record of 0-7-2. From the start of this series until the end of the regular season, they finished with a 12-3-0 record.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">With just over two minutes left in the first overtime period, undrafted Matthew DiMarsico fired the puck past the UConn netminder, sending Penn State to their first-ever Frozen Four. Sergeev was a big reason for that, as he has a .916 save percentage and 2.60 goals against average with an 18-8-4 record.</span>

https://twitter.com/NCAAIceHockey/status/1906496535354843288

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Their season isn’t done, though, as the Frozen Four is set to take place on Apr. 10-12. Their semifinal match-up is a game against Boston University on Apr. 10 at 6:30 p.m. MT.</span>

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<strong><i>Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for <a href="https://flamesnation.ca/combinations">FlamesNation</a>, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.</i></strong>

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Flames prospect roundup: Arsenii Sergeev dominates to help Penn State reach their first Frozen Four

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