Special Event Details for the 2010 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
At a press conference conducted Thursday, the Windsor Spitfires announced special event details for the 2010 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Event to be hosted in Windsor, with the skills competition being conducted on Tuesday, January 19 at 7 pm and the game being played on Wednesday, January 20 at 7 pm.
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The first special event to be hosted by the Spitfires will be the Home Hardware VIP Party following the conclusion of the skills competition on Tuesday, January 19 from 10 pm to 1 am at Caesar’s Windsor as part of the team’s local initiatives being offered jointly with Home Hardware.
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Prior to the commencement of the game on Wednesday, January 20, the Windsor Spitfires will invite 300 minor hockey players to welcome the players from Team Orr and Team Cherry as part of the “Future Prospects Meeting Top Prospects” greeting event on behalf of Home Hardware as the players from Team Orr and Team Cherry arrive to the WFCU Centre, outside of Gate 2 between 5 and 5:15 pm. Media and fans are encouraged to attend.
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Additionally, the Windsor Spitfires and AM800 CKLW’s A-Team will be conducting a Home Hardware “Restock the Shelves” Can Drive at the WFCU Centre’s main entrances prior to the start of the game on January 20 in an effort to replenish local food banks following the holiday season. Fans are encouraged to bring as many non-perishable goods to the game as possible and will receive an entry ballot for the chance to win a Team Cherry jersey autographed by all members of the team, including 2010 IIHF WJHC Team USA gold medalist and Spitfire defenseman Cam Fowler as well as WJHC Team Canada silver medalist and Spitfire Taylor Hall. Austin Watson of the Spitfires will also be playing for Team Cherry.
“The Windsor Spitfires would like to thank Home Hardware and the CHL for supporting this event in the manner they have by providing us with the opportunity to host events benefiting the Windsor and Essex County community. We are also looking forward to welcoming 40 of the top draft eligible, junior aged players in the world that will be participating in this event to the City of Windsor. It is our distinct pleasure to have the opportunity to host the 2010 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Event and we look forward to putting on another first-class CHL showcase event,” said Warren Rychel, Vice-President and General Manager of the Windsor Spitfires.
The 2009 event was held in Oshawa, ON, and featured all 16 CHL players that were selected in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft including the New York Islanders’ first overall pick John Tavares. In addition to Tavares, seven other NHL stars have participated in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game before being selected first overall including Chris Phillips, Joe Thornton, Vincent Lecavalier, Rick Nash, Marc-Andre Fleury, Patrick Kane, and Steven Stamkos. A total of 11 Windsor Spitfires have played in this game including Greg Nemisz who played at the 2008 event before being selected 25th overall by the Calgary Flames and Ryan Ellis who competed at the 2009 event before being selected 11th overall by the Nashville Predators.
Home Hardware continues as the title sponsor of the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game for the eleventh straight year. Associate sponsors include Bank of Montreal, Subway, and NeilMed. The skills competition will be broadcast live on TV COGECO on January 19 with the game being broadcast nationally live on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS on January 20. Fans in the Windsor and Essex County area can also listen to the game live with Spitfire Play-by-Play man Mike Miller on AM800 CKLW.
Ticket packages for the 2010 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and Skills Competition are still available to the general public with main bowl seats available for $40 and restaurant seats at $44. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Teksavvy.com Box Office at the WFCU Centre or by calling 519-254-5000 or online at www.windsorspitfires.com.
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Persons Pictured Above: Windsor Spitfires and Team Cherry Forward Austin Watson, Shane Seguin – Countryside Home Hardware, Windsor Spitfires Vice-President and General Manager Warren Rychel