Calgary Flames’ prospects, they can participate in the 2026 World Youth Hockey Championship – Hockey Writer – Calgary Flames
Recently, many of the best young prospects gathered at the 2025 World Youth Summer Showcase in Minneapolis, a week-long event that includes Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland and Czech Republic, where teams practice and participate in exhibition competitions to help with the selection process of the 2026 IIHF World Youth Hawkekey County Championship.
Related: 3 final gains from World Youth Summer Showcase Week
After the event, Scott Wheeler, Corey Pronman and Max Bultman sports An estimated roster was provided for all five countries participating in the event. Calgary’s flames are well represented on this event and the expected roster, so let’s discuss which flames’ prospects are participating in the event and which are expected to represent their country.
Zayne Parekh – Team Canada
Flame drafted Zayne Parekh with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NHL entry draft. He was widely regarded as one of the best skateboarders in his class before the draft and had the potential to pick 33 goals and 63 assists in 2024, with 96 points in 66 games as a defensive player in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
After being drafted, Parekh returned to the OHL’s Saginaw spirit in the 2024-25 season, where he established an incredible 2023-24 campaign. He scored 33 goals and added 74 assists to score 107 points in 61 games, making him the OHL leader for the second straight season of defense.
For Parekh, it is not a question whether he has the talent to be this roster. Not only is he a top ten draft pick, but he is sports2025 Best Draft Prospects Ranking (NHL’s Top 100 NHL Prospect Ranking: Schaefer, Misa, Demidov Lead Wheeler’s Summer 2025 List,,,,, sportsJuly 14, 2025).
The question is, will he play in the NHL this season with the Flames? With the Flames already holding Mackenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson in the roster, it’s reasonable to believe that Flames don’t want three offensive defenders on the right. But at this point, Parekh’s talent is undeniable, no matter the roster building, he has a great opportunity to score his first career NHL goal in his first and only NHL game after making an immediate impact last season.
If he is part of the consistency of the Flames roster next season, it is unlikely that they will let him play in the world junior who hope they will compete for the Stanley Cup playoffs again. If that’s the case, then Canada could lose one of the best defenders in the tournament, which would be a huge blow.
Cole Reschny – Team Canada
Flames chose Cole Reschny in the first round of the 2025 NHL entry draft and Cole Reschny with the 18th overall pick. He was the Victoria Royals’ Western Conference Hockey League (WHL) last season, and he was a short and highly skilled winger who scored 26 goals in 62 games, totaling 92 points. His 92 points are second among the WHL draft players last season.
Despite his talent, Reschny still needs time to develop his game before he can prepare to play in the NHL. In the 2025-26 season, he has committed to attending North Dakota and will be one of many Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players to transition to college hockey.
Now, sports Whether he’s stuck in Canada’s fourth line, so hockey Canada might choose a striker like Nashville Predators forward Brady Martin, who might be more suitable for the next six roles. However, Reschny’s previous international appearances could give him an edge among some border figures, trying to score five goals and eight points in the Under 18 IIHF World Youth last year.
Coolun Porter – Team USA
Cullen Potter is the second round pick for the Flames in the 2025 NHL admission draft. They chose him overall after a strong freshman campaign at Arizona State, with 13 goals and 22 points in 35 games.
sportsThe expected lineup lists Porter as the third-line center. Like Reschny, Potter has a smaller side, but his elite speed, mobility and toys help make up for the lack of size. His concern for making him the team is that he is not a typical third-tier center, and the United States has other options with a bigger option and may be better at defense, and Porter will need to consolidate his position at a steady start to the season.
However, in their lineup projection, sports Potter is one of the biggest Americans’ outstanding figures among Americans, and his history is a history of eight points among the Under-17 IIHF World Juniors, who scored another seven points in seven games and eight points in seven games, giving him the biggest competitive advantage over his, Cole McKinney, who were not impressive in any of these events.
Henry Mews – Team Canada
Henry Mews is one of the guys we’re going to talk about here, they’re not listed in the expected roster or extras in Canada. However, sports “Canada may also bring flame prospects to Henry Mews, who can run the power if they lose some combination of Sam Dickinson, Zayne Parekh and Matthew Schaefer.”2026 World Youth Roster Forecast: Forecast Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Track and Field, August 5, 2025).
These flames chose MEWS in the third round of the 2024 NHL admission draft. He is a mobile offensive defender, which makes him an ideal candidate for fill and quarterback. While he hasn’t been in the expected roster so far, it’s hard to believe that neither Dickinson, Parek nor Schaff will be in the NHL this season, as they both rank in the top six in the rankings. sportsRanking of the top 100 prospects.
Flames should be well represented on the international stage
These flames are expected to have several players to play in their 2026 world junior year, which is a great signal for the organization. This shows that despite being ranked only in the top 10 since choosing Matthew Tkachuk in 2016, they have made solid recruitment in drafting positions for young people.
While these rosters are far from fixed, it will be interesting to follow which players can improve and consolidate their respective countries’ rosters in the coming months and compete in the world’s junior year, which will be a typical start on Boxing Day (December 26, 2025).
