BUFFALO — He’s a big-city kid.
But deep down, Jack Hextall has small-town roots. And it’s his commitment to hard work, and the details of the game that helped the product of Rolling Meadows, Ill., earn the 30th-overall selection by the Flames at the 2026 NHL Draft.
Growing up with three siblings, the 6-foot-1 centreman developed quite the competitive streak, too, be it on the ice or around the card table.
“I think I get it from my Mom, to be honest,” said Hextall, beaming ear to ear in a brand-new, red Flames sweater. “She's really competitive, either playing board games or cornhole. She's super-competitive, doesn't want to lose.
“Obviously, my Dad's the same way, but just competing with my cousins and my brother, I just want to win.”
It’s that attitude, too, that helped Hextall put up 58 points this past season for a USHL Youngstown Phantoms squad that racked up a franchise-best 91 points during the 2025-26 regular season.
“I mean, anytime I play a sport or anything, I want to win,” he said. “Obviously in hockey, you want to win as much as you can, and be as successful as you can.
“Ultimately, you just want to win.”
Hextall’s hometown is a Chicago suburb, and as a young fan, the self-professed student of the game took in Blackhawks wins, and Stanley Cup championships.
But upon being selected by the Flames, he beamed at the prospect of suiting up in Canada, in front of the C of Red.
“I'm half Canadian, so I think it'd be pretty sick,” he smiled. “All the fans in Canada are awesome, and they love hockey, so that'd be awesome.”
Those Canadian roots come through his father, Cory, who grew up in small-town Wolseley, Sask., before completing his hockey career south of the border in the NCAA. And much of Hextall’s extended family - grandparents and cousins - live in Calgary and across Alberta, which makes his new NHL home just that much sweeter.
Growing up as a young centreman, Jack learned from Cory, both in terms of on-ice skills but also in making sure his love of the game was instilled from an early age, too.
“He coached me up until I was 13,” explained the younger Hextall. “He was never really too hard on me. He was always just supportive, and wanted me to have fun and love hockey, and I think that helped me a lot, just to love hockey and have fun with it.”
“At the end of the day, it's a game, and that's what you want to do.”
This fall, Hextall will start forging his own collegiate path at Michigan State, a three-and-a-half hour drive from home. There, he’ll be teammates with fellow Flames prospect Cullen Potter - Hextall said he’s looking forward to linking up with the Minnesotan at Calgary’s Development Camp next week - all while trying to help a stacked Spartans squad seek a fourth national championship.
But here, under the bright lights at the KeyBank Center, it all came back to family.
Sharing an unbelievable moment with those who helped Hextall achieve it.
“I kind of told my Dad before Calgary was up, I was like, ‘That's probably my last chance for tonight,’" he said. “So then I got picked and I was super-excited.”
“Just a dream come true. It was just really nice to hug your family after hearing your name called.”
