Sbisa and Boychuk selected for H
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the roster of 40 players that will compete in the 2008 Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta on January 22 and 23.
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rThe roster includes four players from Team Canada’s entry at the 2008 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. Steven Stamkos from the Sarnia Sting, Zach Boychuk from the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Drew Doughty from the Guelph Storm and Luke Schenn of the Kelowna Rockets all helped Canada win the gold medal at the event.
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rThe rosters also includes Kyle Beach of the Everett Silvertips, Mikhail Stefanovich of the Quebec Remparts and Stamkos, who were named as the top prospects in their respective leagues in the preliminary rankings for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft that were released in November.
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r“We are very proud to announce the outstanding lineup of players that will compete in this year’s edition of the Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game,” said CHL President David Branch. “This event has become one of the most anticipated on the hockey calendar every January and we are very thankful for our partnership with the National Hockey League and Home Hardware that help make this game possible. The Canadian Hockey League is very excited to be back in Edmonton with the return of the Oil Kings and we look forward to hosting this special event there.”
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rThe 2008 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is the annual showcase of the top draft eligible players from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and features the next wave of future NHL stars from across the Canadian Hockey League. The two-day event will feature the annual Top Prospects game, as well as a thrilling skills competition where players can show-off their individual abilities for fans and scouts alike.
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rThe rosters are selected by the 30 NHL general managers as well as the NHL’s Central Scouting department.
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r"The Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is a major event where scouts can see all the premier draft-eligible players in Major Junior hockey compete head-to-head,” said NHL Central Scouting Director, EJ McGuire. “This year again promises an opportunity for players to showcase their talent to all NHL scouts with the ultimate goal of making the jump into the NHL, as Sam Gagner of the Edmonton Oilers did last year at the Top Prospects Game.”
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rHome Hardware, a title sponsor since 2000, continues as the title partner of the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game this year.
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r"We are looking forward to the 2008 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects game being hosted in the City of Champions," 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 be involved with major sporting events such as the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The game has a storied tradition of helping hundreds of young men achieve their goal of playing in the NHL and we are proud to be associated with such a positive experience."
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rThe long list of NHL stars that have participated in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game includes Dion Phaneuf, Roberto Luongo, Patrick Marleau, Gilbert Brule, Scott Gomez, Marc-Andre Fleury and Edmonton Oilers’ rookie Sam Gagner.
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r2008 Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game – Rosters
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rTeam Red
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rForwards
rA.J. Jenks, Plymouth Whalers
rPhilippe Cornet, Rimouski Oceanic
rJames Wright, Vancouver Giants
rGeordie Wudrick, Swift Current Broncos
rSteven Stamkos, Sarnia Sting
rPatrice Cornier, Rimouski Oceanic
rKelsey Tessier, Quebec Remparts
rPhil McRae, London Knights
rMikkel Boedker, Kitchener Rangers
rMikhail Stefanovich, Quebec Remparts
rJordan Eberle, Regina Pats
rJames Livingston, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
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rDefencemen
rDrew Doughty, Guelph Storm
rAlex Pietrangelo, Niagara IceDogs
rColten Teubert, Regina Pats
rMichael Del Zotto, Oshawa Generals
r Luca Sbisa, Lethbridge Hurricanes
rJyri Niemi, Saskatoon Blades
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rGoaltenders
rChet Pickard, Tri City Americans
rKevin Poulin, Victoriaville Tigres
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rTeam White
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rForwards
rKyle Beach, Everett Silvertips
rJosh Bailey, Windsor Spitfires
rChris Doyle, PEI Rocket
rJoel Champagne, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
rCody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion
rJamie Arniel, Sarnia Sting
rMaxime Sauve, Val-d’Or Foreurs
rMitch Wahl, Spokane Chiefs
r Zach Boychuk, Lethbridge Hurricanes
rTyler Ennis, Medicine Hat Tigers
rJared Staal, Sudbury Wolves
rGreg Nemisz, Windsor Spitfires
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rDefencemen
rColby Robak, Brandon Wheat Kings
rTyler Cuma, Ottawa 67’s
rYann Sauve, Saint John Sea Dogs
rZach Bogosian, Peterborough Petes
rTyler Myers, Kelowna Rockets
rLuke Schenn, Kelowna Rockets
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rGoaltenders
rPeter Delmas, Lewiston MAINEiacs
rThomas McCollum, Guelph Storm
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r # # #
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rFor More information:
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rBrad Young
rManager of Client Services and Media Events
rCanadian Hockey League
rDirect: (416) 332-9711 x429
rCell: (416) 708-0018
rFax: (416) 332-1477
rEmail: [email protected]
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rCory Flett
rDirector of Communications
rWestern Hockey League
rDirect: 403.693.3040
rCell: 403.462.2820
rFax: 403.693.3031
rEmail: [email protected]
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rJordi Weidman
rManager, Public Relations and Brand Communications
rEdmonton Oil Kings
rDirect: 780-409-3705
rCell: 780-504-3146
rEmail: [email protected]
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