Blue Jays Clinch AL East Crown as Flames Continue Preseason

CALGARY -- Twenty more wins than a year ago has lifted the Toronto Blue Jays to the American League East crown. The turnaround season ended with Toronto securing its place in the American League Division Series, where the Jays will face either the Yankees or Red Sox once the Wild Card is settled.

While Toronto fans celebrated baseball success, Calgary hockey fans were focused on NHL preseason action. The Flames opened their slate with split-squad games against Edmonton, earning a 3–2 overtime win on the road behind two goals from Morgan Frost, while dropping the home half 3–0. Back at the Dome, they beat Seattle 4–1, then fell 3–1 in Abbotsford against Vancouver. Most recently, in Winnipeg, the Flames came up short 4–2, with goals coming from 2024 first-round draft picks Zayne Parekh, 9th overall, and Matvei Gridin, 28th overall.

Frost has been Calgary’s most consistent forward, leading the team with five points through four appearances. His overtime winner in Edmonton stood out, but his steady production throughout camp has been just as important.

The Flames’ preseason record may not turn heads, but the combination of veteran contributors and first-rounders hitting the scoresheet is giving head coach Ryan Huska a clearer picture as roster cuts continue. For Huska, the emphasis remains less on results and more on which players will be ready when the games count.

Calgary closes out the preseason this week against Seattle, Vancouver, and Winnipeg before opening the regular season October 8 in Edmonton against the Oilers, last year’s Western Conference champions.

Canadian sports fans now find themselves in one of the best stretches of the calendar: the Blue Jays preparing for October baseball and the Flames moving closer to opening night.