Student of the game Max Curran sounds off ahead of Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
Maxmilian Curran prides himself on being a student on and off the ice.
The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible forward is both a former Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week and a Tri-City Americans Scholastic Player of the Month, balancing his inaugural WHL season with a challenging slate of distance courses from his school back in his hometown of Prague, Cze.
His next big lesson?
The upcoming Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects game in Moncton, N.B.
“It was an honour (to be invited),” Curran said. “I was very excited, very happy and I’m just super excited to be there and play my game and meet some new guys.”
Americans Head Coach Stu Barnes hopes the young forward can use the experience as a measuring stick while building his confidence.
“He’s got the ability to score and create offense and he can be explosive,” Barnes said. “He’s learning the (North American) game so I think it’ll be interesting for him to play in a game like that where he’s surrounded by such high-end talent too. On our own team, it’s hard to surround him with four other guys that are at the elite caliber that all these guys at this game will be, so I think it’s always exciting for those guys to be around similar players.”
Curran has four goals and 23 assists in 37 games, good for fifth on the team and first among Americans rookies.
“The rink is much shorter and smaller, but it’s been good,” Curran added. “I like it. It’s fast. It’s very physical. Lots of shots.
My game, I’d say it’s more about passing, playmaking, just trying to help my teammates.”
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound centreman is ranked 26th amongst North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm rankings.
He’s represented Czechia a half dozen times, most recently earning a silver medal at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he netted a goal and two assists in five outings.
“Confidence is a big thing,” Barnes noted. “You want to give skilled players like him ice time and a lot of ice time early, but then there’s the adjustment to the league. I think for him, it’s a balance of learning to score at this level but also getting to understand defensive responsibilities and then allowing him to kind of test the waters in both directions.
For him, it’s going to be getting better all the time and I think if he keeps that up, he’s got a big upside.”
Basha, Andrew – Medicine Hat Tigers – Calgary, Alta. – 5’11” – 184 – LW
Catton, Berkly – Spokane Chiefs – Saskatoon, Sask. – 5’11” – 170 – C
Curran, Maxmilian – Tri-City Americans – Prague, Czechia – 6’3” – 179 – C
Howe, Tanner – Regina Pats – Prince Albert, Sask. – 5’10” – 182 – LW
Iginla, Tij – Kelowna Rockets – Lake Country, B.C. – 6’0” – 186 – C
Jecho, Adam – Edmonton Oil Kings – Zlin, Czechia – 6’5” – 201 – C
Josephson, Ollie – Red Deer Rebels – Victoria, B.C. – 6’0” – 185 C
Lindstrom, Cayden – Medicine Hat Tigers – Chetwynd, B.C. – 6’3” – 210 – C
Miettinen, Julius – Everett Silvertips – Helsinki, Finland – 6’3” – 205 – C
Parascak, Terik – Prince George Cougars – Lethbridge, Alta. – 6’0” – 176 – RW
Ritchie, Ryder – Prince Albert Raiders – Kelowna, B.C. – 6’0” – 175 – RW
Wetsch, Carson – Calgary Hitmen – Vancouver, B.C. – 6’0” – 187 – RW
Brunicke, Harrison – Kamloops Blazers – Calgary, Alta. – 6’2” – 185 – RD
Elick, Charlie – Brandon Wheat Kings – Calgary, Alta. – 6’3” – 200 – RD
Roberts, Colton – Vancouver Giants – Maple Ridge, B.C. – 6’4” – 198 – RD
Yakemchuk, Carter – Calgary Hitmen – Calgary, Alta. – 6’3” – 190 – RD
Cowan, Dawson – Spokane Chiefs – Warren, Man. – 6’2” – 185 – G
Matecha, Lukas – Tri-City Americans – Pardubice, Czechia – 6’3” – 194 – G
The 2024 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game will mark the 28th edition of this showcase and it will represent the first time that the event has taken place in the province of New Brunswick.
Of the 40 CHL players to compete at the 2023 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game in Langley, B.C., 37 went on to be selected in the 2023 NHL Draft, including Connor Bedard (Regina Pats), who was chosen first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Since the event was first introduced in 1996, it has featured 16 players who were later selected first overall in the NHL Draft, including Bedard (2023), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011) and Chris Phillips (1996).
The 2024 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game airs live on TSN, TSN.ca, the TSN app, and RDS on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 (4:30 p.m. MT). With a limited number of tickets available, fans are encouraged to act quickly to secure their seat for the 2024 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game in Moncton by visiting ticketmaster.ca.
-30-
;
