CALGARY – On the whiteboard on the wall of the Calgary Flames dressing room, the following mission statement is etched in permanent lettering: “WE WORK AND WIN TOGETHER.”

This week, 27 of the Flames’ best young prospects – many of whom will suit up for the Abbotsford Heat this fall – got a taste of what the NHL club expects in terms of work ethic.

On Monday morning, the Flames welcomed their up-and-comers with a battery of grueling fitness tests at the University of Calgary. The players hit the Saddledome ice for a high-tempo practice that afternoon, and over the next five days, they were scheduled to participate in nine more practices, including four power skating sessions.

“It’s been tough so far, and it’s probably only going to get tougher,” admitted Ryan Howse, 18, who was picked by the Flames in the third round of June’s NHL entry draft. “I was a little bit nervous, didn’t know what to expect coming in. I had some butterflies before the workout this morning and the ice time this afternoon, but I think I really settled down.”

In many ways, this week’s development camp was a seminal moment in the history of the Abbotsford Heat, the Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate that will play out of the Entertainment and Sports Centre beginning this fall.

That’s not to say that the collection of prospects on hand was a perfect representation of what the Heat roster will look like in 2009-10. Veteran AHLers like Kyle Greentree, Kris Chucko and David Van der Gulik weren’t present – the development camp is for younger players in the 18-to-22 age bracket.

Of the players in attendance, some – like Howse (Chilliwack Bruins) and Lance Bouma (Vancouver Giants) – will return to the junior ranks this fall. Others, like Swedish sensation Mikael Backlund, have a decent shot at sticking with the NHL club.

But the vast majority of the young prospects will spend time in Abbotsford at some point, either this year or in the future.

“In a roundabout way, this camp is a big part of Abbotsford’s success,” noted Jim Playfair, who will helm the Heat this fall. “The young players get to see where they stand amongst their peers, and they really get a complete feel for all the little elements that allow professional players to be successful. It allows us to have a team that’s better-prepared to compete and win games.”

The Flames’ holistic development model extends well beyond physical training. In addition to the on-ice activities, prospects receive advice on financial decision-making, nutrition and public relations.

“What we’re doing is producing people, as well as making them better hockey players,” Playfair explained. “A well-rounded person is a well-rounded player.”