Former NHL head coach Pat Quinn and future NHL hall of famer Mark Recchi have been named the coaches for the Canadian Hockey League’s annual Top Prospects Game.
Bobby Orr and Don Cherry are usually behind the benches at this game, but this year Quinn and Recchi will be participating in the event for the first time. Quinn will serve behind the bench for Team Orr, while Recchi is the bench boss for Team Cherry. The game will be held at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C.
The game can been seen live across Rogers Sportsnet channels on Feb. 1
“The Canadian Hockey League is very fortunate to have NHL legends Pat Quinn and Mark Recchi serve as celebrity coaches for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game,” CHL vice-president and WHL commissioner Ron Robison said in a press release.
“We are very excited to have Pat and Mark share their NHL experiences with the 40 top prospects in the CHL during one of the most exciting hockey events being held in the British Columbia this season.”
Quinn’s roster includes top prospects such as Team Russia world junior hockey championship silver medalist Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts and Team Canada bronze medalist Tanner Pearson of the Barrie Colts.
Recchi’s roster also includes a pair of WJHC medalists such as Russia’s Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting and Canada’s Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips.
The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will mark the 17th annual showcase of the CHL’s top-40 NHL draft eligible players. The two-day event also features a skills competition and three-on-three challenge taking place on Tuesday January 31, 2012.
