Latest news with #TheoStockselius
National Post
2 days ago
- Health
- National Post
Calgary Flames draft pick Theo Stockselius has inspiring back-story, bright future
Theo Stockselius is focused on being a future difference-maker in the NHL. Article content The Calgary Flames ' forward prospect is already a feel-good story. Article content Article content It was three years ago this month that Stockselius was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He'd just turned 15 at the time. Article content After a pair of surgeries to treat the disease, that health scare is now behind him, although he was anticipating some reminders throughout August. Article content 'I get up some memories when I Snapchat,' Stockselius told Postmedia during development camp. 'I'm just happy that I'm not in the hospital when those memories are coming up. I'm glad to be healthy.' Article content The Flames are glad to have him in the fold. They welcomed Stockselius with a second-round pick, No. 54 overall, in the 2025 NHL Draft. Article content They see a lot of promise in his playmaking abilities. Article content They are excited that he's on the radar to represent Sweden at the world juniors, with an important audition coming up next week. Article content They are optimistic that, as he builds strength, he could help at the faceoff dot and appreciate that he aims to emulate Mikael Backlund's game, determined to be a trustworthy two-way centre just like Calgary's current captain. Article content 'With what he has already been through, you know the perseverance and the way he keeps going,' said Flames general manager Craig Conroy. Article content These are, after all, 18-year-old kids. Article content 'I had been sick, like, every week so my father took me to the hospital one day and they see that my thyroid was bigger,' Stockselius said, reflecting on his diagnosis in 2022. 'So they took a test and said it was cancer. After that, I did two operations — one in the summer, in August, and one in November the same year. But after that, I'm fine. I go for check-ups every six months, but I'm feeling really good and it's fine right now.' Article content Hockey, he will tell you, helped him through all the tests and treatments. He feels fortunate he wasn't forced to miss too many games or practices and whenever he was on the ice, it would take his mind off the hospital visits. Article content Three years after his diagnosis, and one substantial step closer to realizing his NHL dream, Stockselius also finds a positive in an experience that no teenager should have to go through. Article content 'Cancer is a really big thing,' he said. 'So for example, if you have a bad game, it's easier to forget that. Cancer is much bigger, so I think I'm stronger mentally after that.'
National Post
28-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
NHL Draft Day 2: Who the Calgary Flames Took
By Danny Austin Article content The Calgary Flames loaded up on centres in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday night. Article content On Saturday, they doubled-down on that approach before going after the best players available with the rest of their picks. Article content Let's take a look at who the Flames added to their prospect pool on Saturday, with comments from director of amateur scouting Tod Button about each. Article content Article content Article content Second round, No. 54 Article content Theo Stockselius Article content Position: Centre Article content Height: 6-foot-3 Article content Weight: 196 lbs. Team: Djurgarden Jr. Article content What's his story: The third centre the Flames took in three picks after selecting Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter in Friday's first round, Stockselius averaged 1.28 points per game in the Swedish junior league and models his game on Flames captain Mikael Backlund, among others. He's got size, two-way instincts and a scoring touch, too. Article content What Button said: Update coming … Article content Article content Third round, No. 80 Article content Mace'o Phillips Article content Position: Defence Article content Height: 6-foot-6 Article content Weight: 233 lbs. Team: U.S. National Team Development Program Article content What's his story: Phillips is huge, he's strong and he's physical. By no means is he a finished product, but he's a left-handed blueliner and that's something the Flames could use more of. His size alone meant he was worth a swing and while scouting reports do note he's got to cut down on the penalties he takes, there's lots of time for him to improve there. Article content Article content What Button said: Update coming … Article content Article content Article content Fifth round, No. 114 Article content Ethan Wyttenbach Article content Position: Left-wing Article content Height: 5-foot-10 Article content What's his story: Wyttenbach was the first ever winner of The Gaudreau Award, which goes to the USHL player who best embodies the legacy of the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. That's a pretty amazing connection with the Flames, given all Gaudreau accomplished in Calgary. The right-handed winger scored 24 goals and added 27 assists for the Stampede this year and is committed to playing at Quinnipiac University next season. Article content What Button said: Update coming … Article content Article content Sixth round, No. 176 Article content Aidan Lane Article content Position: Right-wing Article content Height: 6-foot-1 Article content Weight: 193 lbs. Team: St. Andrew's College (Ontario High School) Article content What's his story: Lane is heading to Harvard next season and if that leads to him being anywhere near the player that Matt Coronato's become, this will be the steal of the draft. Even if he never reaches Coronato's heights, Lane put up 13 points in 13 games for the Brampton Steelheads in the WHL after leaving St. Andrew's College, suggesting the offensive upside is real. Article content What Button said: Update coming … Article content Article content Seventh round, No. 208 Article content Jakob Leander Article content Position: Defence Article content Height: 6-foot-4 Article content Weight: 196 lbs. Article content Team: HV71 Jr. Article content Article content Article content
National Post
28-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Flames continue to prioritize pivots by drafting Theo Stockselius
The Calgary Flames were serious about stocking up on centres. Article content After selecting Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter with their first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Flames followed up by welcoming Theo Stockselius at No. 54 overall on Saturday morning. Article content Article content 'I saw that last night — Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter. It's two really good centremen,' Stockselius told Postmedia. 'So now we have three good centremen.' Article content The more, the merrier. Article content You could argue that Reschny, Potter and Stockselius immediately become Calgary's top three pivot prospects. Article content Yeah, the cupboards are that thin at this crucial position, especially if you expect that Wranglers leading scorer Rory Kerins will wind up on the wing. Article content The scouting report on Stockselius, who averaged 1.28 points per game this past season in the Swedish junior league, is that he's a crafty playmaker with strong two-way instincts. Article content Asked if he is working to emulate any current NHLers, he mentioned Flames captain Mikael Backlund and Joel Eriksson Ek of the Minnesota Wild, saying 'both are really good all around the ice.' Article content Specific to Backlund, he added: 'In the future, I really want to play like him.' Article content Stockselius, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 181 pounds, notched 22 goals and 51 points in 40 appearances this season with Djurgardens. Article content Article content While he managed only one marker at World Under-18s, he must have been feeling a little snakebitten since he racked up 20 shots on net. He also contributed four assists and won 64.29 percent of his draws at that international showdown. Article content Article content
