The Calgary Flames appear to have found a late-round gem in 18-year-old forward Ethan Wyttenbach.
Not much was known of Wyttenbach when the Flames selected him in the fifth round of the 2025 draft. At the time, he was coming off his rookie season with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede, scoring 24 goals and 51 points in 44 games. After some deliberation, he chose to head to Quinnipiac University for the 2025-26 season.
“I was really planning on going back to Sioux Falls due to having to get a knee surgery done in the summer,” Wyttenbach said in an exclusive chat with Daily Hive. “I just didn’t want to rush the recovery. But then, when I got drafted by Calgary, they were pretty dead set on me going to school and taking that next step and being challenged a little bit more than I would have been playing in the USHL this year.”
After a couple of goals tonight Ethan Wyttenbach is up to *27 points* in 19 games.
He currently tied for the lead in NCAA freshman scoring. #Flames pic.twitter.com/I0V6Ewi1gS
— Flames Prospects (@BlastyProspects) January 3, 2026
That decision is paying off in spades.
Through just 22 games, Wyttenbach has racked up 12 goals and 31 points. His point total not only leads Quinnipiac, but is first amongst all NCAA freshmen. While many have been caught off guard by his immediate success, the Roslyn, New York native believed he was in store for a big season.
“I had no doubt that by the end of the year I’d figure it out,” Wyttenbach said. “I expected to finish around a point-per-game. I kind of figured out the college style a little quicker than I had anticipated. My season in the USHL took me 15, 20 games to get going. That’s kind of what I was expecting this season. Obviously, I have no complaints, but I was a little surprised at how quickly I adapted.”
It’s become quite apparent that Wyttenbach should have been taken much earlier in the draft. That said, he doesn’t seem to hold any bitterness over how things played out.
“You take everything with a grain of salt,” Wyttenbach explained. “Right now you can say that [I should have went earlier], but three months ago nobody would argue me being a fifth-rounder. It’s one of those things where it happened, and I’m hoping that one day I can make Calgary look pretty good for taking me in the fifth round.”
🔥Ethan Wyttenbach had the first 4-point game of his NCAA career on Wednesday against Holy Cross —
The freshmen now sits top ten in NCAA scoring with 2️⃣0️⃣ points (8G, 12A)
Unprecedented stuff from a guy who was originally going to play in the USHL this season! #Flames pic.twitter.com/v8jLLvc8fm
— Flames Prospects (@BlastyProspects) November 28, 2025
Though he would have preferred going higher, being selected to the Flames has been quite exciting for Wyttenbach. That is largely due to the fact that he got to join the same organization as one of his good friends, Matt Coronato.
“He’s an unbelievable guy, someone who is really good to me. We skated with [Flames power skating coach] Danielle [Fujita] in the summer. He’s been super good with communicating with me on a monthly basis, just talking and staying in touch.
“He’s someone who has been really important in being a role model for me, and now with the Flames connection, it’s been really cool.”
Having known each other for nearly a decade, Wyttenbach was comfortable telling Coronato in a joking way that he needed more from him early in the season.
“I made sure to tell him he was on my fantasy hockey team and he had to start scoring,” Wyttenbach said with a grin.
Looking to round out his game
Make no mistake; even with his incredible success this season, Wyttenbach is well aware there are areas of his game that need to be improved. The skilled winger raved about how longtime Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold has helped him round out his game.
“You see in Calgary, [Ryan] Huska is no joke. It’s good. He’s really set on a specific model defensively. If you can be reliable, you have the freedom to play offence. Now playing for Rand, who is a pretty similar style, I think earning his trust in the d-zone has been something I’ve been progressively trying to do.”
@QU_MIH/X
Making Wyttenbach’s success all the more impressive is that he’s been able to do so despite spending most of his summer in recovery mode. That could mean even bigger things for him in 2026-27, should he be able to get a full offseason of training under his belt.
“Power skating and being in the gym are two things I’ve really focused on. I’ve made huge strides, and now I want to do that again. With a full summer where I don’t have to deal with a knee surgery, the recovery process will be huge.”