VANCOUVER – Growing up outside of Edmonton, Braeden Cootes always cheered against the Calgary Flames.

Now the 18-year-old Vancouver Canucks centre is preparing to play Calgary as he readies for his first NHL game.

The milestone is one Cootes has long been looking forward to, and the fact it will come against the Flames makes the moment all the sweeter.

“It’s a little extra motivation. I’m not too big a fan of them,” said the teen, who grew up in the Edmonton suburb of Sherwood Park. “But it’s cool.”

Cootes’ inclusion on Vancouver’s opening night roster came as a surprise to some.

Selected 15th overall by the Canucks in June’s NHL entry draft, the five-foot-11, 183-pound forward will be one of the youngest faces in the league to start the campaign.

Making it through Vancouver’s final

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