CHL announces rosters for the 2005 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game

Toronto – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the rosters of the 40 players who will compete in the annual Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Vancouver, BC on Wednesday January 19, 2005.

The game will showcase 40 of the CHL’s top players that are eligible for selection in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. The players were selected by the National Hockey League’s 30 teams.

“This is a special time in the lives of these young athletes,” said CHL President David Branch. “The Home Hardware Top Prospects Game has a long tradition of providing budding young stars with a stage to display their skills against many of the game’s top players from this age group. We are very grateful for the support of the National Hockey League, Home Hardware and all of our associate sponsors who make this very special event possible.”

More than 340 players have suited up in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and gone on to be selected in the NHL Entry Draft, including all 40 players who played in the game last year. 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).

The CHL also announced today that Don Cherry and John Davidson will be the head coaches in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. It will be Cherry’s ninth appearance in the Home Hardware Top Prospects Game and Davidson’s first. Hall of Famer Brian Kilrea and Bert O’Brien of the Ottawa 67’s and Don Hay of the Vancouver Giants will be the assistant coaches.

Don Cherry coached in the NHL with the Bruins and Colorado Rockies from 1974 to 1980 before he became a fan favourite on Coach’s Corner. In 1975-76 Cherry won the Jack Adams Trophy as the NHL’s Coach of the Year. The native of Kingston, Ontario played his junior hockey with the Barrie Flyers and he was a member of the Flyers’ 1953 Memorial Cup winning team.

After an outstanding WHL career with the Calgary Centennials, Rogers Sportsnet broadcaster John Davidson became the first goaltender to make the jump directly from Junior to the NHL. After an 11-year career in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers, Davidson embarked on a successful broadcast career with MSG, Hockey Night in Canada and Rogers Sportsnet. Among other broadcast achievements, the Ottawa, Ontario native was the lead analyst for CBS’ hockey coverage for three consecutive Olympic games.

The 2005 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be broadcast live across Canada on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS. The event will also feature a skills competition on Tuesday January 18 at Pacific Coliseum.

“We are very proud to continue our association with this special game,” said Bruce Shuh, Director of Marketing for Home Hardware Stores Limited. “Our independent dealers support local hockey teams and events in more than 1,000 communities across Canada and as a national dealer network, we are proud to sponsor major sporting events such as the Home Hardware Top Prospects Game.”

2005 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game – Player Rosters

TEAM WHITE (DAVIDSON)

Forwards
Sidney Crosby, Rimouski Oceanic
Kenndal McArdle, Moose Jaw Warriors
Devin Setoguchi, Saskatoon Blades
Ryan O’Marra, Erie Otters
James Neal, Plymouth Whalers
Michael Blunden, Erie Otters
Wacey Rabbit, Saskatoon Blades
Blair Jones, Moose Jaw Warriors
Viatcheslav Trukhno, PEI Rocket
Patrick Davis, Kitchener Rangers
Evan Brophey, Belleville Bulls
Mathieu Aubin, Lewiston MAINEiacs

Defence
Luc Bourdon, Val d’Or Foreurs
Jakub Kindl, Kitchener Rangers
Marc Staal, Sudbury Wolves
Raymond Macias, Kamloops Blazers
Scott Jackson, Seattle Thunderbirds
Jean-Philippe Paquet, Shawinigan Cataractes

Goal
Alexandre Vincent, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Daren Machesney, Brampton Battalion

TEAM BLACK (CHERRY)

Forwards
Gilbert Brule, Vancouver Giants
Benoit Pouliot, Sudbury Wolves
Bobby Ryan, Owen Sound Attack
Chris Durand, Seattle Thunderbirds
Alex Bourret, Lewiston MAINEiacs
Dan Collins, Plymouth Whalers
Dan Ryder, Peterborough Petes
Nicholas Drazenovic, Prince George Cougars
Guillaume Latendresse, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Chris Lawrence, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Marek Zagrapan, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Cody Bass, Mississauga IceDogs

Defence
Ryan Parent, Guelph Storm
Matt Lashoff, Kitchener Rangers
Brendan Mikkelson, Portland Winter Hawks
Oskars Bartulis, Moncton Wildcats
Dustin Kohn, Calgary Hitmen
Michael Sauer, Portland Winter Hawks

Goal
Carey Price, Tri-City Americans
Jean-Philippe Levasseur, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

2005 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Event Itinerary

Monday January 17, 2005
5:00 p.m. – Team Black Practice
6:00 p.m. – Team White Practice

Tuesday January 18, 2005
9:00 a.m. – Team White NHL Skills Testing
11:00 a.m. – Team Black NHL Skills Testing
7:10 p.m. – Skills Competition

Wednesday January 19, 2005
9:00 a.m. – Team Black pre-game skate
9:30 a.m. – Team White pre-game skate
12:00 noon – Top Prospects Banquet (Bayshore Hotel)
7:00 p.m. – 2005 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game