CHL announces 2006 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game participants
OTTAWA – The Canadian Hockey League and National Hockey League today announced the 40 players who will participate in the 2006 Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game on Wednesday January 18 at the Corel Centre.
The game will showcase 40 of the CHL’s top players that are eligible for selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. The players were selected by the National Hockey League’s 30 teams. The players will be separated into two teams prior to the event.
“On behalf of the Canadian Hockey League, it is my pleasure to congratulate these 40 young student-athletes for their selection by the National Hockey League to participate in this prestigious event,” said David Branch, President of the Canadian Hockey League. “For many of these players, this is the highlight of their hockey careers so far and we look forward to watching them perform and carrying the rich tradition of excellence we have come to expect from the Home Hardware Top Prospects Game.”
More than 380 players have suited up in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and gone on to be selected in the NHL Entry Draft. The game has featured five players who were the first overall picks in the NHL Entry Draft – Chris Phillips (1996), Joe Thornton (1997), Vincent Lecavalier (1998), Rick Nash (2002) and Marc-Andre Fleury (2003).
“This game promises to be an exciting event as several top prospects will be looking to establish themselves as the premier prospect in the CHL on this night,” said Director of Central Scouting for the NHL, EJ McGuire. “We are lucky in that we will have as many as a half dozen players looking to prove that they are a cut above the rest. We are very excited to see which of these young men will best use the opportunity of this event to showcase himself for the future.”
The CHL also announced today that Ottawa 67’s coaches Brian Kilrea and Bert O’Brien will be behind the bench with Don Cherry while Peterborough Petes’ Coach Dick Todd will join Bobby Orr behind the bench for Team Orr.
The 2006 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be broadcast live across Canada on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS.
Tickets for the Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game and Skills Competition are $25 and $15 for groups of 15 and more, prices include all taxes and the CRF but excludes the convenience charges. This is a package price which includes the skills competition tickets on January 17 and the game on January 18. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.CapitalTickets.ca, by calling 599-FANS or 1-877-788-FANS, or in person at all Ottawa-Gatineau area Sports Experts locations or the Corel Centre box office. For group discounts, please call (613-599-0210) or email at [email protected]
2006 Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game Participating Players
Forwards
John Armstrong – Plymouth Whalers
Martin Bartos – Saint John Sea Dogs
Matt Beleskey – Belleville Bulls
Francois Bouchard – Baie Comeau Drakkar
Derick Brassard – Drummondville Voltigeurs
Benjamin Breault – Baie Comeau Drakkar
Codey Burki – Brandon Wheat Kings
Brady Calla – Everett Silvertips
Cory Emmerton – Kingston Frontenacs
Ondrej Fiala – Everett Silvertips
Nick Foligno – Sudbury Wolves
Michael Grabner – Spokane Chiefs
Ryan Hillier – Halifax Mooseheads
Riley Holzapfel – Moose Jaw Warriors
Bobby Hughes – Kingston Frontenacs
Bryan Little – Barrie Colts
Ben Maxwell – Kootenay Ice
Jamie McGinn – Ottawa 67’s
Peter Mueller – Everett Silvertips
James Sheppard – Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Jordan Staal – Peterborough Petes
Chris Stewart – Kingston Frontenacs
Bryce Swan – Halifax Mooseheads
Ryan White – Calgary Hitmen
Defencemen
Lukas Bohunicky – Kootenay Ice
Mathieu Carle – Acadie-Bathurst Titans
Matthew Corrente – Saginaw Spirit
John DeGray – Brampton Battalion
Tysen Dowzak – Kelowna Rockets
Theo Peckham – Owen Sound Attack
Joe Ryan – Quebec Remparts
Bobby Sanguinetti – Owen Sound Attack
Ben Shutron – Kingston Frontenacs
Ivan Vishnevskiy – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Mike Weber – Windsor Spitfires
Ty Wishart – Prince George Cougars
Goaltenders
Kevin Armstrong – Saskatoon Blades
Jonathan Bernier – Lewiston Maine-iacs
Ryan Daniels – Saginaw Spirit
Leland Irving – Everett Silvertips