Latest news with #NationalTeamDevelopmentProgram
Ottawa Citizen
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Calgary Hitmen unveil 2025-26 schedule; home opener set for Sept. 20
Article content The Hitmen will launch their campaign with a home-and-home series against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, starting on Friday, Sept. 19 at the Arena. The set then shifts to the Scotiabank Saddledome the following night for the Hitmen's home opener. Article content Article content Hitmen training camp will take place in late August followed by five pre-season games in September. Calgary will play a 68-game regular-season slate, evenly split between home and away contests. All home games will be played at the Saddledome. Article content Article content This season includes a return to the B.C. Division, featuring a historic first matchup against the expansion Penticton Vees on Jan. 17. Article content In addition to regular-season games, Calgary will welcome the 2026 NHL Draft Top Prospects as one of the host cities for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge on Nov. 25 at the Saddledome. The challenge is a two-game series that sees the top NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL's member Leagues (WHL, OHL and QMJHL) compete against those from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 Team.
Calgary Herald
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Hitmen unveil 2025-26 schedule; home opener set for Sept. 20
Article content The Hitmen will launch their campaign with a home-and-home series against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, starting on Friday, Sept. 19 at the Arena. The set then shifts to the Scotiabank Saddledome the following night for the Hitmen's home opener. Article content Article content Hitmen training camp will take place in late August followed by five pre-season games in September. Calgary will play a 68-game regular-season slate, evenly split between home and away contests. All home games will be played at the Saddledome. Article content Article content This season includes a return to the B.C. Division, featuring a historic first matchup against the expansion Penticton Vees on Jan. 17. Article content In addition to regular-season games, Calgary will welcome the 2026 NHL Draft Top Prospects as one of the host cities for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge on Nov. 25 at the Saddledome. The challenge is a two-game series that sees the top NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL's member Leagues (WHL, OHL and QMJHL) compete against those from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 Team. Article content
Edmonton Journal
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
‘He's a bit of a throwback': Meet Calgary Flames third-round pick Mace'o Phillips
Article content On Friday night, shortly after the Calgary Flames called his name in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, Cullen Potter fielded several questions about his mom. An obvious angle, since Jenny won four Olympic medals during an illustrious hockey career. Article content The following day, when the Flames welcomed Mace'o Phillips to the fold, the heavy-hitting blue-liner wanted to brag a bit about his own mother, Amy. Article content 'She's kind of the reason I am who I am today,' Phillips said. 'She is the first person I hugged when I got picked. I can't thank her enough for all she's done for me.' Amy has been a pillar of strength for this defence prospect from Wayzata, Minn., raising Mace'o and his sister as a single parent. She was also a heck of an athlete in her own right. During the draft broadcast, they mentioned that Amy competed in gymnastics and soccer. According to her son, who has spent the past two seasons with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (USNTDP), there was another sport that they forgot to mention. 'Her eighth-grade year, she was out in the field at Apple Valley High School here in Minnesota and she was just kicking some field goals with her friends,' Phillips said. 'And the boys' football coach saw her kicking field goals and they asked her to be the kicker for the boys' football team in high school. Article content 'So I definitely get some of that athleticism from her.' Potter and Phillips, two of the eight prospects selected by the Flames in the 2025 NHL Draft, are actually close friends. They both hail from Minnesota and were teammates with the USNTDP in 2023-24. Everything College Hockey recently filmed a day-in-the-life feature on Potter, who has already played his freshman season with the Arizona State Sun Devils, and Phillips makes a cameo as his pickleball partner. You can bet these buddies have been volleying back and forth about eventually becoming fan faves in Calgary. Just like Jenny was a speedster on skates, Cullen can absolutely fly. This potential pivot is now the fastest player in the Flames' pipeline and has the soft hands required to make offensive plays at high pace. While Mace'o moves well for his size, he is less dash and more smash. Article content At 6-foot-6 and 233 pounds, he would also be an appealing football recruit. He plays an aggressive, imposing brand and led the USNTDP in penalty minutes this winter, with 103. There is a former NHL tough guy on the Flames' amateur scouting staff, and he can vouch for Phillips' grip strength. 'I think he almost broke Jim Cummins' hand in the interview, and Jim is a big man too,' grinned general manager Craig Conroy. 'So I'm like, 'Oh, this is gonna be fun.' 'He's a bit of a throwback — big, heavy, hard,' Conroy added of Phillips. 'If the game gets going a certain way, I think he's going to be right in the middle of that game. As a player, I always liked having those guys on my team. When I think back, I guess everybody always thinks, 'Oh, you must have liked playing with all the skill.' But it's nice playing with people that you know they have your back and they're going to play hard, be physical and just make it miserable to play against. Article content 'It's something that we wanted to have. We wanted to get, I call it a throwback — a big, heavy, hard guy on the back-end. He fits that mould.' Patience will be required, but the Flames hope that Phillips can eventually add some brawn to a blue-line crew that is well-stocked with offensive danglers. He'll skate next season with either the WHL's Portland Winterhawks or the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers and then has committed to the University of Minnesota. As he chases his NHL dream, Phillips will need to show he can be counted on for a fast and accurate first pass. Although he totalled only two goals and six points in 60 games during his draft year, scouts will tell you he has a howitzer of a shot. 'I'd say I'm a physically dominant defenceman,' Phillips said. 'I take pride in being hard to play against. I just want to win a Stanley Cup for the Calgary Flames and shut down top lines and intimidate my opponents with my physicality and contribute offensively as well, at the right times. I play with a lot of compete and high energy, so I'm just super excited to showcase that. Article content 'Just my passion for the game and my will to win is why I play so hard. I'll also do anything for my teammates and team to win, so I think that's a part of it too. I always like to let my teammates know I have their back, on and off the ice.' On what turned out to be a special Saturday, he was reminded how many people have his back. Amy earns credit for another big assist on this one. 'My mom actually threw me a surprise draft party at a local restaurant, upstairs in a private room,' said Phillips, guesstimating there were about 70 people in attendance. 'When we saw my name, everybody got up and was screaming. I broke down in tears. I really didn't think I was going to cry, but I just immediately hugged my mom. 'I'm kind of at a loss for words, honestly. I'm just so thankful for the opportunity. I couldn't be more excited to be a Flame.' Latest National Stories
Calgary Herald
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
‘He's a bit of a throwback': Meet Calgary Flames third-round pick Mace'o Phillips
Article content On Friday night, shortly after the Calgary Flames called his name in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, Cullen Potter fielded several questions about his mom. Article content An obvious angle, since Jenny won four Olympic medals during an illustrious hockey career. Article content The following day, when the Flames welcomed Mace'o Phillips to the fold, the heavy-hitting blue-liner wanted to brag a bit about his own mother, Amy. Article content Article content 'She's kind of the reason I am who I am today,' Phillips said. 'She is the first person I hugged when I got picked. I can't thank her enough for all she's done for me.' Article content Article content Amy has been a pillar of strength for this defence prospect from Wayzata, Minn., raising Mace'o and his sister as a single parent. Article content She was also a heck of an athlete in her own right. Article content During the draft broadcast, they mentioned that Amy competed in gymnastics and soccer. According to her son, who has spent the past two seasons with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (USNTDP), there was another sport that they forgot to mention. Article content 'Her eighth-grade year, she was out in the field at Apple Valley High School here in Minnesota and she was just kicking some field goals with her friends,' Phillips said. 'And the boys' football coach saw her kicking field goals and they asked her to be the kicker for the boys' football team in high school. Article content Article content 'So I definitely get some of that athleticism from her.' Article content Article content Potter and Phillips, two of the eight prospects selected by the Flames in the 2025 NHL Draft, are actually close friends. Article content They both hail from Minnesota and were teammates with the USNTDP in 2023-24. Everything College Hockey recently filmed a day-in-the-life feature on Potter, who has already played his freshman season with the Arizona State Sun Devils, and Phillips makes a cameo as his pickleball partner.
Ottawa Citizen
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Calgary & Lethbridge to be host cities for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge
Article content Calgary and Lethbridge will the host cities for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. Article content The first game of the two-game series will take place on Tuesday, November 25 at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, while the second contest will be held the following night on Wednesday, November 26 at Arena in Lethbridge. Article content Article content First introduced in 2024, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge is a two-game series that sees the top NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL's Member Leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJHL) compete against those from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 Team. Article content Article content 'We are thrilled to bring the CHL USA Prospects Challenge to Calgary and Lethbridge this November,' said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. 'These two passionate hockey communities will provide an exceptional backdrop to highlight the CHL's top prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, giving fans in both of these markets the opportunity to see a premier best-on-best competition featuring the next generation of NHL talent. This event not only highlights elite competition but also strengthens the cross-border rivalry that makes this series so compelling for fans and scouts alike.' Article content Article content
