19 WHLers named Top Prospects

Calgary – In a joint announcement the Canadian Hockey League and the National Hockey League announced the players that will participate in the 2000 CHL Home Hardware Top Prospect Game. The game, which will be broadcast live on CTV Sportsnet, will be played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on February 2 at 7:00 p.m E.S.T. The 1999 game will be the fifth edition of the Top Prospects Game.

The players were selected by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau and NHL teams. Forty of the CHL prospects for the 1999 NHL Entry Draft will be featured in the game. The Western Hockey League will contribute 19 players to the game while the Ontario Hockey League will have 15 players and there will be six prospects from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Leading the way from a team perspective in the Western Hockey League is the Seattle Thunderbirds with four players. Defencemen Gerald Dicaire and Craig Olynick will join forwards Shane Endicott and David Morisette. The Calgary Hitmen will be represented by three prospects in this year’s game, including the number one ranked goalie at the Mid-Term Ranking by the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting, Brent Krahn . Krahn will be joined by fellow players, defenceman Wade Davis and forward Matt Pettinger.

The Prince Albert Raiders will have two players this years game, including number three ranked player at the Mid-Term Ranking by the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting, Scott Hartnell. The Kamloops Blazers, Swift Current Broncos, and the Moose Jaw Warriors will also have two players in this year’s showcase of the CHL’s top prospects. The Regina Pats, Brandon Wheat Kings, Kootenay Ice and the Portland Winter Hawks all have one player traveling to Toronto for the February 2nd game.

The Ontario Hockey League’ Plymouth Whalers lead the way from a team perspective with five players at this years Prospects Game.