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Flames Major Junior update
Written by: Aaron Vickers on 10/28/2004 
Western Hockey League
Calgary's last selection in the 2004 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Kootenay Ice forward Adam Cracknell has enjoyed a relatively hot start to his 2004-05 Western Hockey League season, after finding success on the Ice's top two lines last year. Cracknell, who was drafted as a 19-year-old by the Flames 279th overall, finished last season behind only New York Rangers prospect Nigel Dawes in scoring, registered 26 goals and 61 points in 72 games last season. Through 17 games this season, the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native sits behind both Dawes and Dale Mahovsky with 14 points. Offense isn't the only department in which the 6'1, 190lb forward is contributing. With 32 minutes in penalties, Cracknell sits only a minor infraction behind Casey Lee for the team lead in penalties. Perhaps the play of the right winger has inspired Cracknell's Kootenay Ice, as they continue to roll in the Western Hockey League, topping the Western Conference with 20 points.Matt Schneider, the only Calgary Flames prospect spending his season skating for a CHL squad in the United States, is off to an extremely familiar season with the Tri-City Americans. Last season with the club, the Vernon, BC native registered 23 points in 69 games, or at a 0.33 points-per-game pace. Through 11 games this season, the 6'6 Schneider has registered 2 goals and 4 points, or a 0.36 point-per-game pace. Schneider, whose Americans are off to the second worst start in the Western Hockey League with eight points in 11 games and 24 goals to show for their offensive output, sits at -4 on the season, second to last on the club. Statistically speaking, this season won't be as important to Schneider, the 200th overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, as developing his coordination and skill within his massive frame.
The Calgary Flames have only one European prospect playing in the Canadian Hockey League this season, Finn Aki Seitsonen. Playing for the Prince Albert Raiders, Seitsonen has seen himself slide from the center ice position, to which he is most familiar with, to the right wing on the top line alongside Montreal Canadiens 2004 first round selection Kyle Chipchura. Seitsonen spent much of last season buried behind Chipchura and New York Islanders prospect Jeremy Colliton. The adjustment for Seitsonen has been difficult at both ends of the ice for the native of Riihmiski, Finland. While Seitsonen sits third on the Raiders in scoring with five goals and nine points in 15 games, his offensive totals leave something to be desired for a player that has spent time on the club's top line. Defensively, the 6'3 winger sits -4 on the season, with the team low shared by rookies Marcel Ulehla and Josh Elder, who are both -5 respectively.
Despite playing for an offensively inept Kamloops Blazers squad, which has scored more goals than only three of its Western Conference rivals and five clubs in the entire Western Hockey League, 2003 NHL Entry Draft selection Cam Cunning is off to a torrid pace to start the 2004-05 season. Cunning, who has skated in 14 games for the Blazers this season, has registered nine goals, over twice as many as his closest teammate, and behind only five others in the league, including Calgary Flames prospect and Red Deer Rebels defenseman Dion Phaneuf. The Powell River, BC native is almost certain to eclipse his WHL career high in goals scored, set last season with his 14 tallies in 65 games last season. Although the Blazers seem to be struggling, and off to the third worst start in the league, both Cunning and fellow Calgary Flames prospect Kris Hogg seem to be finding success. Hogg, a left winger, has one less point then Cunning, and sits third on the club in points with 11 in 13 games. Cunning, who has skated in 14 games, sits at 12 points and second on the roster, behind only Jarret Lukin, who has scored only two goals this season, but has 11 assists. Hogg may sit one point behind Cunning in the scoring race, but has a clear and decisive edge when it comes to time spent off the ice. This season the 6'1 Cunning has spent a modest 19 minutes in the penalty box, while Hogg holds second on the club with 33 minutes in penalties.
When selected in the third round by the Calgary Flames, General Manager Darryl Sutter was hoping that Moose Jaw Warrior Dustin Boyd would explode offensively the following season. Possessing all the offensive skills necessary to be an effective two-way forward, the Flames, and Boyd himself, are waiting for the offensive explosion predicted by the former Midget scoring sensation. While Boyd is scoring at a higher pace then that of his 2003-04 campaign with the Warriors, which saw him register 38 points in 72 games, his offensive totals aren't overwhelming. A positive sign for Boyd, though, is that he is currently leading his offensively inept Moose Jaw team in points, and shares the club lead in goals. Boyd's current totals have him on pace to average a point-per-game this season, with five goals and 12 points in 12 games this season. Boyd, named earlier this month to the WHL's roster for the CHL Canada/Russia Challenge, may find his plus/minus discouraging, as he is a disappointing -9. Perhaps what is more discouraging for Boyd is the fact that the organization is winless through its first 12 games, posting an awful 0-9-3-1 record, while being outscored 63-34 this season.
6'2, 200lb center Tyler Johnson is off to an impressive start to his season with Head Coach Brent Sutter and the Red Deer Rebels. Johnson, who spent part of last season as a teammate to Dustin Boyd and the Moose Jaw Warriors, has seen his role with the organization increase early this season, as he is already closing in on his career high in assists, with his goal total not far behind. Last season, the 173rd overall selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft split nine goals and 20 points between 35 games with the Rebels and 22 with the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Calgary, Alberta native is off to the best start of his junior career, with four goals and 11 points in 14 games. Johnson, whose Rebels sit behind only the Medicine Hat Tigers and Kootenay Ice in the standings this season, are off to an equally impressive start. The man leading the Rebels to such an impressive start is 2003 NHL Entry Draft first round selection Dion Phaneuf, who has seen his offensive game develop by leaps and bounds. It has been publicly stated by General Manager and Head Coach Darryl Sutter that Phaneuf was returned to the Rebels this season only due to the NHL lockout, stating that he was ready for the challenges that professional hockey brings. It appears as though as Sutter is right, as his brother Brent is thanking him for the gift of Phaneuf. Through 14 games the 6'2 defenseman has amassed 17 points, but an even more impressive 11 goals. Phaneuf's 11 goals this season has him slotted third in the league for the category, behind only Saskatoon Blades forward Ryan Keller and Nigel Dawes of the Kootenay Ice. Among defensemen, Phaneuf has nearly triple that of the next defenseman, rookie defenseman Andrej Meszaros of the Vancouver Giants, Shea Weber of the Kelowna Rockets and Braydon Coburn of the Portland Winter Hawks, each with four on the season. It is also interesting to note that Phaneuf, despite playing a rough style of game, has only 21 minutes in penalties, a far cry from the team lead held by captain Colin Fraser, with 43.
Ontario Hockey League
Despite playing in only nine games for the Windsor Spitfires, 6'4 225-pound forward Ryan Donally has made his presence felt in the Ontario Hockey League. Unfortunately for the Spitfires, though, he's only been able to do it through nine games this season. Donally, the captain in Windsor, has missed four games due to a knee injury for which he will go undergo minor surgery, and is expected out of the lineup for at least a month. Despite this injury, though, Donally still sits second on the team in minutes in penalties, while adding one goal and three points in his nine games of action. Last season, Donally recorded 22 points in 44 games for the Spitfires.You would think that skating on the only undefeated team in the Canadian Hockey League would have any player excited, but unfortunately for Calgary Flames prospect Brandon Prust, it isn't all it's cracked up to be. Prust, an overage selection by the Calgary Flames in the second round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, has played in but seven of the 13 games for the London Knights this season. Prust has played both center and left wing early this season and has seen only action in only seven games due to an injury suffered in his first shift of the season. Back in the fold, Prust has now registered three points in the six games. A native of London, Prust will have every opportunity to excel offensively with the likes of Corey Perry and Rob Schremp as potential linemates. Returning to add a physical element to the undefeated, record-setting London squad, Prust has averaged 2.43 minutes in penalties a game, fourth on the club.
Peterborough Petes forward Jamie Tardif is off to an incredible start to the 2004-05 Ontario Hockey League season. Tardif leads his Peterborough squad in points, registering 18 in 15 games after putting up 53 in 62 games last season, finishing behind only Liam Reddox. Tardif seemingly has stepped up his offensive contributions after an impressive offseason in which he had a strong showing at the Calgary Flames Developmental Camp in August. Tardif's point totals this season place him amongst the OHL's best, sitting in the top ten in scoring, ahead of the likes of Florida Panthers 2003 first rounder Anthony Stewart and Philadelpha Flyers prospect Mike Richards. The only discouraging stat that one may find on Tardif's line is the fact that he currently sits at -7 on a team that boasts 2005 draft eligible Daniel Ryder, who sits at +6.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Calgary Flames lone prospect in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is Cape Breton Screaming Eagles defenseman Adam Pardy. Pardy, who stands at 6'2 and over 200lbs, is playing in his second season of Major Junior hockey. Pardy, who had 16 points in 68 games last season, is off to a start that should easily eclipse both personal bests for the Bonavista, Newfoundland native. Through 17 games this season, Pardy already has 7 points including three goals, one shy of his career best set last season. Pardy's steady offensive contributions see him tied for the team lead in scoring among defensemen with Neil Smith, and tied for fifth in overall scoring. Strong, defensive play has also been a trademark of Pardy this season, who is a modest -2 on the season, playing for a squad that boasts a team -55. Another overage selection for the Calgary Flames in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Pardy's good start to the season may have unveiled something that Flames scouts saw in him last year.Questions/Comments about this article or any of Calgary's prospects? Visit HF's Calgary Flames Message Board.
Copyright 2004 Hockey’s Future. Do not duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
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