Oliver Kylington becomes the first Eritrean in the NHL

Eritrean-Swede Oliver Kylington becomes the first Eritrean in the NHL

Calgary Flames prospect Oliver Kylington given OK to play in North America

By Calgary Herald

According to Swedish newspaper Expressen, Calgary Flames prospect Oliver Kylington has been given permission by his Allsvenskan club AIK to play in North America next season.

“We do not stop Oliver from the opportunity he has been given,” general manager Anders Gozzi told the team’s website.

After being drafted by the Flames 60th overall in June, Kylington signed an entry level contract shortly after the team’s summer development camp July 15.

But Kylington, who had agreed to a two-year pact with AIK this past spring, was still contractually obligated to his Stockholm-based club.

And because Kylington was not drafted in the first round, the Flames had to leave it up to AIK to give him their blessing and release the 18-year-old defenceman.

So, with that out of the way, Kylington is eligible to play with the Calgary Flames in 2015-16, the big club’s affiliate Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League, or the Brandon Wheat Kings, which have his Western Hockey League rights.

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