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Calgary Flames have 9 prospects who could suit up at 2027 World Juniors

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Jul 29 2026, 10:50 pm
Calgary Flames have 9 prospects who could suit up at 2027 World Juniors
Kirby Lee/Imagn Images

The Calgary Flames may not be icing a very competitive team in 2026-27, but their prospect pool is proof that brighter days lie ahead.

Thanks to several trades and great drafting, the Flames, under the guidance of GM Craig Conroy, have one of the best prospect pools of all 32 NHL clubs.

While Flames fans have heard of several of these prospects countless times, many have not yet had the opportunity to watch any of them in game action. That will soon change, as several will be representing their respective countries at the 2027 World Juniors.

Here’s a look at nine Flames prospects we could see participating in the highly anticipated annual tournament:

Canada

Cole Reschny

  • Position: C
  • Drafted: 18th overall (2025)

Barring injury, Cole Reschny won’t just be playing for Team Canada at the 2027 World Juniors, but will play a big role.

The 19-year-old centre suited up in the tournament in 2026, scoring four goals in seven games. After registering 35 points in 36 games as a sophomore with the University of North Dakota in 2025-26, he could very well end up serving as their number-one centre.

Carson Carels

  • Position: D
  • Drafted: 6th overall (2026)

The Flames were able to add yet another top-tier blueline prospect to their pipeline in this year’s draft when they selected Carson Carels at sixth overall. Like Reschny, the 18-year-old suited up for Canada at the World Juniors in 2026, where he recorded an assist in five games.

This time around, Carels is poised for a much bigger role with Canada, perhaps even getting the nod for some big power play minutes.

Chase Harrington

  • Position: LW
  • Drafted: 36th overall (2026)

Unlike Reschny and Carels, Chase Harrington is somewhat of a long shot to crack Canada’s roster this December. That said, the fact he was included on their summer showcase roster shows the Flames got a good one early in the second round.

Harrington is set to return to the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs for a third season in 2026-27. If he can come out of the gates hot, he could surprise some by being named to this roster.

USA

Cullen Potter

  • Position: C
  • Drafted: 32nd overall (2025)

Cullen Potter wasn’t able to crack USA’s World Juniors roster in 2026, but that’s likely to change this coming year. The 19-year-old, who recently transferred from Arizona State to Michigan State, will blow Flames fans away with his incredible speed.

That speed, paired with his great offensive skills, should be more than enough to land him a top-six role.

Ethan Wyttenbach

  • Position: LW
  • Drafted: 144th overall (2025)

Ethan Wyttenbach was snubbed from last year’s USA World Junior roster, and you can bet that won’t be happening again. The 19-year-old had a season for the ages as a freshman with Quinnipiac, leading all NCAA players in scoring with 59 points.

Jack Hextall

  • Position: C
  • Drafted: 30th overall (2026)

The Flames went off the board a bit when they drafted Jack Hextall at 30th overall in this year’s draft, but his inclusion on USA’s roster for the summer showcase shows that many are high on him.

Hextall is by no means a lock to crack this roster, but plays a very complete game which could make him a great option in a bottom-six role. That will largely depend on how he starts off his freshman season with Michigan State University.

Mace’o Phillips

  • Position: D
  • Drafted: 80th overall (2025)

Mace’o Phillips doesn’t have the high-end skill or offensive abilities as others on this list, but what he lacks in those departments he more than makes up for in size and toughness. The 6-foot-6, 234-pound blueliner racked up 187 penalty minutes in 44 games with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers in 2025-26.

Phillips, like Hextall, will need to play his way onto this roster, but certainly has an opportunity to do so in a bottom-pairing role.

Sweden

Theo Stockselius

  • Position: C
  • Drafted: 54th overall (2025)

After being forced to miss last year’s tournament after suffering a skate cut in October, Theo Stockselius will have an opportunity to show Flames fans why many are so high on him this time around.

The recently turned 19-year-old suited up for 16 games in the SHL this past season, suggesting he’s not just going to play for Team Sweden, but will log big minutes.

Czechia

Tobias Trejbal

  • Position: G
  • Drafted: 42nd overall (2026)

To the confusion of some, the Flames picked the first goalie in the 2026 draft in Tobias Trejbal with the second of their three second-round picks. The 18-year-old posted a 2.12 GAA along with a .916 SV% in 42 appearances with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms in 2025-26.

Trejbal is likely to be named to Czechia’s roster so long as he doesn’t struggle out of the gates in his freshman season with the University of Massachusetts. The possibility is even there for him to serve as their number-one goaltender.

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