Yakupov to miss Top Prospects game

Sarnia Sting forward Nail Yakupov will miss Wednesday's 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game because he is nursing a knee injury.

Jacques Beaulieu, general manager of the Sting, made the announcement Monday and issued the following statement on behalf of his club: "Dr. R. Giffin of the Fowler Kennedy Clinic in London has advised the hockey club that it is in the best interest of the player not to partake in the Top Prospects Game on Wednesday in Kelowna."

Yakupov is projected to be the first-overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game can been seen live across Rogers Sportsnet channels on Feb. 1 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

Yakupov first hurt his knee following the world junior hockey championship and was subsequently removed from the Top Prospects roster. After returning for three games with the Sting this past weekend there was hope the 18-year-old would be healthy enough to be added back into the lineup, but that won't be the case.