ROY TAKES TO CHL STAGE TONIGHT
(Courtesy of Bruce Luebke, 880 CKLQ Sports) — Brandon Wheat Kings’ defenceman Eric Roy is in Halifax this week for the Canadian Hockey League’s Top Prospects Game.
The contest features 40 of the top draft-eligible players for the 2013 NHL Draft including potential first overall picks Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks and Nathan McKinnon of the Halifax Mooseheads.
“I think I’m definitely prepared…I’ve tried to prepare myself these past couple of games,” said Roy prior to Saturday’s home game against Regina, “It’s going to be a lot of pressure to go play there, there’s going to be a ton of scouts there. You just not to think about it, you go there and play your game and hope everything works out well.”
Roy has seven goals and 24 points while playing in all 45 games with the Wheat Kings this season but has had some struggles in his own zone and currently has the second-worst plus/minus in the Western Hockey League at -25.
The 6-foot-3, 190 pound Roy was ranked ninth among WHL Skaters in November’s preliminary rankings by the NHL Central Scouting Service and I asked the 18-year old how he’d access himself for NHL GM’s and scouts.
“Strong work ethic every day. I come to the rink every game, I haven’t missed a game this year,” said Roy, “Just being a good leader, come and work hard every day, do the simple stuff and just do the little things.”
Roy will be a member of Team Cherry at the event and, like almost every Canadian boy, grew up watching the legendary Coaches’ Corner personality during Hockey Night in Canada.
He’s looking forward to meeting Don Cherry in person.
“Definitely very exciting, I hope he wears one of those fancy suits, it’s going to be awesome,” said Roy, “I’ve always watched him, that was my show on Saturday, I always watched the first intermission because that’s when he talked and he was always awesome.”
The Top Prospects Game is scheduled for tonight and will be televised on Rogers Sportsnet.
In other Wheat Kings’ news, three members of the hockey club will be travelling out to Minnedosa Wednesday night for another Minor Hockey Caravan visit. Minnedosa product Chad Robinson, Neepawa’s Quintin Lisoway and veteran goalkeeper Corbin Boes will be skating with several local teams and will be available for both photographs and autographs.
In addition, all Minnnedosa Minor Hockey players will receive complimentary tickets to Friday’s WHL game between Brandon and Prince Albert, courtesy of Canadian Tire, Teleco (Rogers) and The Construction Association of Rural Manitoba.
