Some of the best and brightest young stars in the Canadian Hockey League will get the opportunity to impress NHL scouts in the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
On Thursday, the CHL announced the 40 players who will take part in the Top Prospects Game which will be held at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC, on Feb. 1, 2012.
The three players who were ranked first overall in their regional league according to NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Draft Rankings — Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting, Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts, and Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips — were all named to the games. Murray, along with Tanner Pearson of the Barrie Colts, will compete in this event after representing Canada at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.
“The Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game showcases 40 of the league’s top prospects eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft,” CHL President David Branch said. “Congratulations to all 40 players selected for this event representing the next wave of talent to the NHL, with the opportunity to showcase their skills before hundreds of NHL scouts in attendance and for fans in Kelowna and CHL fans watching live across Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.”
Thirty of the CHL’s 59 member clubs are represented in this game including three players from the OHL’s Belleville Bulls. Eight other teams have two players competing in the event including the host Kelowna Rockets who will be represented by forward Colton Sissons and defenceman Damon Severson.
“The Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is an event that all NHL scouts look forward to attending,” NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr said. “The 40 players competing in this game were chosen by the 30 NHL clubs with the game being a unique opportunity to evaluate 40 of the top draft eligible prospects on a single stage in what has annually become an intense competition.”
“It is a huge honour to be named to this event and to play alongside some of the best players in the 2012 NHL draft class,” said Murray. “I’ve had some great friends compete in this game including Ryan Nugent-Hopkins last season, and I am really looking forward to this opportunity.”
Both Russian-born top prospects were equally thrilled to be named to the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
“I am very excited to play in the Top Prospects Game,” said Yakupov, last year’s CHL Rookie of the Year who has 49 points in 24 games this season. “I am looking forward to playing against and meeting the other top draft eligible players from the CHL.” Grigorenko, who leads all QMJHL rookies with 56 points in 35 games also commented; “I am honoured to play among the best NHL prospects and it will be a great challenge for me.”
Last season Ryan Nugent-Hopkins became the 10th player to compete in this event since 1996 to be selected with the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft. A total of 19 CHL players from the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game were selected among the record 21 CHL players chosen in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. That list included Jonathan Huberdeau of the Saint John Sea Dogs who was selected third overall, and Ryan Strome of the Niagara IceDogs who was selected fifth overall.
Coaches and support staff for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be announced at a later date.
| 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game | |
| Team Orr (White) | Team Cherry (Red) |
| Goaltenders | |
| Malcolm Subban (Belleville Bulls) |
Matthew Murray (SSM Greyhounds) |
| Francois Tremblay (Val d’Or Foreurs) |
Brandon Whitney (Victoriaville Tigres) |
| Defenceman | |
| Gianluca Curcuruto (SSM Greyhounds) |
Cody Ceci (Ottawa 67’s) |
| Matthew Finn (Guelph Storm) |
Mathew Dumba (Red Deer Rebels) |
| Olli Maatta (London Knights) |
Nick Ebert (Windsor Spitfires) |
| Adam Pelech (Erie Otters) |
Slater Koekkoek (P’borough Petes) |
| Derrick Pouliot (Portland Winterhawks) |
Ryan Murray (Everett Silvertips) |
| Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton Oil Kings) |
Damon Severson (Kelowna Rockets) |
| Forwards | |
| Andreas Athanasiou (London Knights) |
Martin Frk (Halifax Mooseheads) |
| Francis Beauvillier (Rimouski Oceanic) |
Brendan Gaunce (Belleville Bulls) |
| Raphael Bussieres (B-C Drakkar) |
Coda Gordon (Swift Current Broncos) |
| Radek Faksa (Kitchener Rangers) |
Charles Hudon (Chic. Sagueneens) |
| Mikhail Grigorenko (Quebec Remparts) |
Scott Laughton (Oshawa Generals) |
| Tomas Hyka (Gatineau Olympiques) |
Jarrod Maidens (Owen Sound Attack) |
| Scott Kosmachuk (Guelph Storm) |
Andrew Ryan (Halifax Mooseheads) |
| Matia Marcantuoni (Kitchener Rangers) |
Gemel Smith (Owen Sound Attack) |
| Tanner Pearson (Barrie Colts) |
Dominik Volek (Regina Pats) |
| Colton Sissons (Kelowna Rockets) |
Thomas Wilson (Plymouth Whalers) |
| Chandler Stephenson (Regina Pats) |
Nail Yakupov (Sarnia Sting) |
| Lukas Sutter (Saskatoon Blades) |
Daniil Zharkov (Belleville Bulls) |
