"Like most Canadian kids, John Negrin has been dreaming of Maple Leafs and hockey skates for his entire life.

But not getting an invite to this summer's junior national team development camp wasn't a complete bummer for the 19-year-old Calgary Flames prospect.

"A goal of mine was to make it to (Canada's) camp," said the two-time, under-18 national team member from West Vancouver. "It's unfortunate that I didn't get asked but it's not the end of the world.

"Just because I didn't get invited to the development camp doesn't mean I won't get asked to the camp at Christmastime."

Two others Flames prospects, Greg Nemisz of Courtice, Ont., and Keith Aulie of Rouleau, Sask., were excused early from last week's camp at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

And while his fellow Flames prospects began auditioning for the national team Saturday in Ottawa, Negrin continued impressing in Calgary.

The six-foot-three, 195-pound defenceman said a strong start to this season, wherever he ends up -- either back in the Western Hockey League or with the Flames -- may catch the national team's eye down the road.

"Wherever I play next year," Negrin said on the weekend, "I'm going to go out and do my best and try to show them I deserve a spot on that team . . . you can never count yourself out."

Negrin got more than he bargained for this past spring when he got a call from the Flames after his Kootenay Ice were eliminated from the WHL playoffs.

With Calgary's American League affiliate squad in Quad City also out of the post-season, Negrin joined the Flames' Black Aces practice squad during the NHL playoffs.

During Calgary's seven-game run against the San Jose Sharks, Negrin tried to absorb all he could.

"It was so cool," said Negrin, the 70th overall pick in '07. "I don't know where to start, it was unbelievable . . . these are all guys I looked up to my whole life."

The experience was indeed priceless, but not as memorable as his first plane ride to California."