Latest news with #Calgary
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Holy smokes it's beautiful here' Bahl staying in Calgary
First, Kevin Bahl decided to stay in Calgary for the summer. Then, on Saturday, he decided to stick around with the Flames for six more years. The first choice didn't lead directly to the second, but it did make it awfully easy for the towering defenceman to simply pop in to the Saddledome to put pen-to-paper on a deal that will carry an annual cap-hit of US$5.35 million. And like so many people who have decided to settle in Calgary over the years, after a long winter, being able to see the city in the spring for the first time certainly didn't hurt his desire to stick around. 'We were hanging out the first couple weeks and like a month ago we got, like, 29 degrees and just sunny every day for a week or two and I was like 'OK, I can hang out here no problem, it's actually pretty beautiful', ' Bahl said. 'Just going to Banff and stuff, it's a nice, dry heat. 'It's like 'Holy smokes, it's beautiful here'. ' Bahl will have many more chances to enjoy the finer pleasures of Calgary over the next six years and he is going to have the opportunity to establish himself as a core piece of a young Flames blueline that it's hoped will lead the team back to contention sooner rather than later. After being acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the trade that sent Jacob Markstrom the other way last summer, Bahl didn't waste any time making an immediate impression. Still only 25-years-old, the 6-foot-6 and 230 lbs. Bahl established an easy chemistry with Rasmus Andersson and played in 73 games, recording three goals and 20 points while finishing third on the team in average ice-time, logging 21:23 per night. Those are all career highs, and Bahl isn't going to be counted on to lead the power-play or drive the offence. He's a stay-at-home type, but the Flames need those. He's also left-handed, which means you could easily see him playing alongside someone like Zayne Parekh or Hunter Brzustewicz when they break into the NHL full-time. All that makes Bahl a good fit for the Flames and as his long-term commitment signals, the feeling is mutual. 'I remember when I got traded here, it was all 'Oh, how are the Flames going to do?' ' Bahl explained. 'It was unbelievable, I came into the first meeting and I don't know anybody and I forget if it was (head coach Ryan Huska or GM Craig Conroy), but one of the first things that was said and maybe the first sentence was 'This team right here, our goal is to make the playoffs. There's nothing else in our mindset, we're going to make the playoffs.' 'Every single day during the year, it was 'We need to win every single game …' Just coming into that first meeting, I was like 'I like this'. ' For the Flames, getting Bahl signed to an extension represents an important piece of business just days before free-agency opens. His best years are ahead of him and his combination of skill and size is something the Flames just don't have elsewhere in their defensive corps. 'I think when you watch the games this year, when he wasn't in the lineup you're missing that big, heavy, long defender,' said Flames GM Craig Conroy. 'I thought his puck-play got much better as the season went along and he actually was more physical as the season went along, too. 'Sometimes you want him to be more physical at that size, but I did see that progression and I do think he's going to keep taking steps. He's still only (25)-years-old and I think the sky's the limit. To have him locked-up and be a big part of this moving forward is big.' The Flames signed Matt Coronato to a seven-year extension earlier in the spring and with Bahl now committed, Connor Zary and Morgan Frost remain the biggest names on their list of soon-to-be restricted free-agents. The spectre of an Andersson trade looms large, too, as he's entering the final year of his contract and reports indicate an extension isn't close. Bahl hasn't talked to his defensive partner about the situation. 'If he was around I'd probably want to talk to him about it, just pick his mind on it. I haven't really reached out, it's hard with something like that,' Bahl said. 'Love the guy to death, he's an amazing competitor, he's one of those guys, he's just chippy, a ratty little guy, amazing competitor and he's going to show up every day.' daustin@
CTV News
6 hours ago
- CTV News
‘Part of our backyard': Guided educational river floats launch into Bow River
Rafts are in the river for another summer as the RiverWatch Institute of Alberta marks its 30th year taking people for first-hand educational floats in Calgary. For decades, the not-for-profit has taken thousands of students down the Bow River and North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton to learn about the river's ecosystem, wildlife and history. Now the organization has opened up its rafts to the public who want to experience the guided tours, too. 'I think the more we get people on the river to experience the nature aspect of the river, the more people will be connected to it,' said Jay Ball, the executive director of RiverWatch. 'You want to connect people to the river so they care about it. And when people care about things, they begin to protect it.' The summer EcoFloats run up to four hours along the Bow River in south Calgary, through parts of Fish Creek Park. RIVERWATCH RiverWatch tours show wildlife and birds along its route down the Bow River. (Supplied) Guides point out wildlife and birds along the route; plenty of pelicans and ducks can be spotted at this time of the year, along with a bald eagle or two. 'The river, it's part of our backyard. So exposing people to that and seeing everything that Calgary has right at our fingertips --I think that's the pretty cool part,' said Natalie Thain, a RiverWatch guide who is heading into her third year of a Natural Sciences degree at the University of Calgary. The EcoFloats run Thursdays to Sundays every weekend until August 24 and tickets can be purchased online.
CTV News
6 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Multiple people injured in temporary structure collapse at Nigerian-style market near city hall
A number of people were transported to hospital when a temporary structure collapsed Saturday at a Nigerian market near city hall. Several people were injured when a tent toppled over at a Nigerian-style Market Saturday afternoon. Calgary police responded just before 3 p.m. for reports that a temporary structure collapsed in the 800 block of Macleod Trail near city hall. Police say between four and six people were transported to hospital in unknown condition. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the city at 2:20 p.m., but it's not clear whether the incident was weather-related. The Najia Market Day features Afro music and hype sessions, unique products and food from a diverse array of vendors and a lively and authentic Nigerian market atmosphere. It continues until 8 p.m. Saturday. This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
National Post
7 hours ago
- 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
8 hours ago
- 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
