15 WHL Players Named to 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game
Oshawa, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Ontario Hockey League and the Oshawa Generals Hockey Club today announced the rosters for the 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The event will showcase 40 of the top CHL players eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft beginning with a thrilling skills competition on Tuesday January 13, 2009, with the game taking place Wednesday January 14, 2009, at the General Motors Centre in Oshawa, Ontario.
The rosters, which are selected by the 30 NHL General Managers and NHL Central Scouting, include two players that will be representing Canada at the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championships. John Tavares from the Oshawa Generals and Ryan Ellis from the Windsor Spitfires will be striving for gold prior to this showcase in January. The rosters also include Jared Cowen of the Spokane Chiefs and Evander Kane of the Vancouver Giants who are the top two prospects in the WHL as named by NHL Central Scouting in their preliminary draft rankings released in November. Simon Després of the Saint John Sea Dogs and Dimitry Kulikov of the Drummondville Voltigeurs represent the top two participating QMJHL prospects.
The 2008 event held in Edmonton, Alberta, featured 20 players that were selected in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft including Steven Stamkos who was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Michael Del Zotto of the Oshawa Generals also participated in the game before being selected in the first round, 20th overall by the New York Rangers. NHL stars such as Patrick Kane, Dion Phaneuf, Roberto Luongo, Patrick Marleau, Scott Gomez, and Marc-Andre Fleury all participated in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Home Hardware continues as the title sponsor of the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game for the tenth straight year. Associate sponsors include ADT, Boston Pizza, Bank of Montreal, and CCM/RBK. The game will be broadcast nationally live on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS.
Tickets to the 2009 Home Hardware Top Prospects Skills Competition and Game will be sold together in one package at one price of $49 including all taxes and can be purchased in-person at the General Motors Centre Ticket Office. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.generalmotorscentre.com or by phone at 1-877-436-8811. More information can be found at the official event website: http://homehardwaretopprospectsgame.com
The following are the rosters for the 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game:
Team # 1
Forwards (12)
CHL Club
Ryan O’Reilly Erie Otters (OHL)
Brayden Schenn Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Peter Holland Guelph Storm (OHL)
Scott Glennie Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Michael Latta Guelph Storm (OHL)
Taylor Beck Guelph Storm (OHL)
Cody Eakin Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Tomas Vincour Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Levko Koper Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
David Gilbert Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Philippe Paradis Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
John Tavares Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Defencemen (6) CHL Club
Jared Cowen Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Brayden McNabb Kootenay Ice (WHL)
Tommi Kivisto Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Ryan Ellis Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Charles-Olivier Roussel Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
Calvin de Haan Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Goaltenders (2) CHL Club
Olivier Roy Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
Scott Stajcer Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Team # 2
Forwards (12) CHL Club
Matt Duchene Brampton Battalion (OHL)
Alex Hutchings Barrie Colts (OHL)
Andrej Nestrasil Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
Landon Ferraro Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Zack Kassian Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Carter Ashton Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Evander Kane Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Jimmy Bubnick Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Ethan Werek Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Jordan Caron Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Michal Hlinka Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
Nazem Kadri London Knights (OHL)
Defencemen (6) CHL Club
Taylor Doherty Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Stefan Elliott Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Tyson Barrie Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Dmitry Kulikov Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
Éric Gélinas Lewsiton MAINEiacs (QMJHL)
Simon Després Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Goaltenders (2) CHL Club
Nathan Lieuwen Kootenay Ice (WHL)
Edward Pasquale Saginaw Spirit (OHL)