Danford scores, Goaltending shines as Team Red wins 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
Photo courtesy: Daniel St. Louis
Generals defenceman Ben Danford scored and Steelheads netminder Ryerson Leenders turned aside 19 shots as Team Red beat Team White 3-1 in the 2024 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game in Moncton, N.B.
19 OHL players took the ice in the 27th edition of the annual showcase of NHL Draft-eligible talent: eight for Team Red and 11 for Team White.
After an opening frame that saw Leenders and Owen Sound’s Carter George go toe-to-toe in net, Spitfires’ captain Liam Greentree would open the scoring 1:52 into the second period with a trademark snipe:
Liam Greentree lights the lamp
The @SpitsHockey captain wires it home to open the scoring for Team White in Moncton
#NHLDraft | #CHLKTP pic.twitter.com/ki553eThTV
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) January 25, 2024
It was an all-OHL goal, with Storm pivot Jett Luchanko and Oshawa dynamo Beckett Sennecke providing the assists.
Danford, the 32nd-ranked North American skater in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings, would respond for Team Red less than five minutes later, scoring a one-timer at the back door to finish off some pretty passing:
Another look at Ben Danford's beautiful snipe for Team Red in Moncton!
@Oshawa_Generals | #NHLDraft | #CHLKTP https://t.co/sOOoVHBjTu pic.twitter.com/vNZty7WXcr
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) January 25, 2024
“You don’t see a backdoor pass ‘D-to-D’,” said the Team Red defenceman.
“It was such a nice feed.”
Baie-Comeau’s Raoul Boilard scored the game-winner for Team Red 5:52 into the third period. Brantford’s Marek Vanacker would set him up for his second of the night into an empty net.
Attack netminder Carter George stopped 11 of the 12 shots he faced.
The victory secured Team Red’s first win in the Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game since 2018.
Your #OHL representatives at the 2024 #CHLKTP game!
pic.twitter.com/Wm6gj1zkO3
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) January 25, 2024
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