Flames prospect becomes first NCAA player to make Team Canada in three years
Current Boston University defenseman Brandon Hickey, a Calgary Flames draft pick, cracked the final roster for Team Canada for the World Junior Championships this winter. He is the first NCAA player to make the Canadian national team for World Juniors since St. Louis Blues forward Jaden Schwartz cracked the roster in 2012 while Schwartz was still playing for Colorado College. Team Canada traditionally fields a roster of players who mostly play in the Canadian Juniors system, so it is a great reflection on a players' skills when an NCAA player is able to crack the Team Canada roster.
Hickey is the second BU player ever to play for Team Canada in the tournament. The last time a Terrier player made the Canadian World Junior roster was in 1993, when Adrian Aucoin played for Team Canada. Aucoin went on to enjoy an 18-year NHL career before he retired from the league in 2013.
Hickey is one of two Flames' prospects who will play for Team Canada this winter, joining goalie Mason McDonald, who was selected 34th overall by the Flames in the 2014 NHL Draft. Hickey, a native of Leduc, Alberta, was selected 64th overall by the Flames in the same draft.
Boston U d-man Brandon Hickey is 1st NCAA player to crack Canada’s #WorldJuniors rosters since Jaden Schwartz in 2012
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) December 20, 2015
