Team Orr Defeats Team Cherry 2-1 In The Home Hardware CHL Top Prospects Game

Scouts and General Managers from all 30 NHL Teams flocked to Prospera Place in Kelowna British Columbia to witness the lowest scoring game in the 17 year history of the event - a 2-1 victory for Team Orr.

Tom Wilson of the Plymouth Whalers (Team Cherry) showed why he's one of the top power forwards available for the draft when on his first shift he threw two big hits on Gianluca Curcuruto of the Soo Greyhounds. He continued to throw the body all night and was sure to draw the attention of scouts. He had a pretty good bout with Dalton Thrower of the Saskatoon Blades in the second period.

As for Curcuruto, he played a solid, physical, defensive game. He showed flashes of his puck carrying abilities, going end to end in the second period. He took the body when he could without going out of his way looking for the hit. He was left almost defenseless on Team Cherry's only goal as Thrower went out of his way to make a hit and missed leaving a virtual 2 on 1. Dillon Fournier scored on the rebound.

Gemel Smith of the Owen Sound Attack (Team Cherry) was his typical self. Tenacious on the puck despite his size, he fought battles along the wall and usually came away with the puck. His speed was evident throughout the night especially on the backcheck where he broke up a couple of Team Orr rushes.

Belleville Bulls teammates Daniil Zharkov and Brendan Gaunce (Team Cherry) played on a line together and created a couple of chances. The best chance came halfway through the second right after teams switched goaltenders when Zharkov picked the puck up at center and went in on defenseman Matt Finn (Guelph Storm). He pulled the puck between his legs and went around Finn and put a shot on Francois Tremblay.

Adam Pelech of the Erie Otters (Team Orr) was almost unbeatable defensively. He took his opponents out of the play at every opportunity, was positionally sound and took away shooting and passing lanes. It's no wonder he's only a minus 4 on a team where you find a roster full of minus 20 and 30.

Matt Murray of the Soo Greyhounds (Team Cherry) was nothing short of spectacular in goal coming in halfway through the second. His best two saves back to back were when they were on the penalty kill and he made a big save on Scott Kosmachuk (Guelph Storm) and then on Raphael Bussieres, who along with Radek Faksa (Kitchener Rangers), were buzzing.

No one really hurt their value in the game. The Finn's, Faksa's and Laughton's and such played okay games but weren't their usual dominant players that they show they could be at times. They should all be proud of the way they played and rest assured, no one hurt their value.

The one thing we learned from this game, or at least confirmed: This is the year of the defenseman.

Team Orr Beats Team Cherry In Top Prospects Skills Competition

Team Orr beat Team Cherry 15-9 at the Home Hardware CHL Top Prospects Game Skills Competition Tuesday in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Nick Ebert of the Windsor Spitfires (Team Cherry) had the hardest shot at 94.7 MPH. He was followed closely by Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips (Team Cherry) at 94.3 MPH. Team Orr recieved a point for the highest team average at 91.9 MPH.

Francis Beaullivier of Rimouski Oceanic (Team Orr) won the fastest skater with a time of 14.132 seconds. Team Orr also got the point for the fastest team average of 14.524 seconds.

Gianluca Curcuruto of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (Team Orr) beat out Scott Laughton of the Oshawa Generals (Team Cherry) in a playoff after both finished with 4 targets in 5 shots. The teams were tied at 13 for 28 and both received an extra points.

Radek Faksa of the Kitchener Rangers (Team Orr) also needed a playoff to beat Tim Bozon of the Kamloops Blazers (Team Cherry) in the Show-Down Breakaway Challenge. Faksa earned a score of 26 in the third playoff round to take the event. Team Orr took another team point with an average score of 22.3.

Team Orr had a 7-2 lead on Team Cherry heading into the 3 on 3, where Team Orr took the contest 8-7.

Other OHL Players involved in the skills competition were:

Gemel Smith of the Owen Sound Attack in the fastest skater event with a time of 14.907 (6th)
Adam Pelech of the Erie Otters in the hardest shot competition at 91.0 MPH  (6th)
Matt Finn of the Guelph Storm in the hardest shot competition at 90.1 MPH (7th)
Tom Wilson of the Plymouth Whalers in the shooting accuracy finishing 4/6 (3rd)
Scott Kosmachuk of the Guelph Storm in the breakaway challenge scored 20
Tanner Pearson of the Barrie Colts in the breakaway challenge scored 26
Andreas Athanasiou of the London Knights in the breakaway challenge scored 15
Daniil Zharkov of the Belleville Bulls in the breakaway challenge scores 21
Brendan Gaunce of the Belleville Bulls in the breakaway challenge scored 16
Dane Fox of the Erie Otters in the breakaway challenge scored 19

The Top Prospects game goes this evening at 10:00 PM Eastern On Rogers Sportsnet Nationally and TVA in Quebec. It is also available on the radio and on line at http://www.fan590.com/

Otters' Dane Fox Added to 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Western Hockey League Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club and Home Hardware Stores Limited today announced that three players have been added to rosters for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game to be played February 1 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC.

 Dalton Thrower of the Saskatoon Blades has been added to the Team Orr roster while Dane Fox of the Erie Otters and Dillon Fournier of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies will compete for Team Cherry.  The three players replace Olli Maatta of the London Knights, along with Charles Hudon of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, and Cody Ceci of the Ottawa 67’s who are unable to participate due to injury.

 Thrower, is an 18-year-old defenceman from North Vancouver, BC, playing in his third WHL season with the Blades.  Ranked 30^th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting in their midterm rankings, Thrower, at 6’0’’ and 185lbs, is fifth among WHL defencemen in scoring with 40 points in 50 games so far this season.

 Fox, an 18-year-old from Thamesville, ON, is playing in his third OHL season.  The 6’0’’ 185lb forward is ranked 48^th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting and has 42 points in 43 games so far this season.

 Fournier, a 17-year-old from Dorval, QC, is playing in his second QMJHL season.  The 6’1’’ 160lb defenceman has 29 points in 39 games this season and is ranked 138 by NHL Central Scouting. 

 The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is supported by title sponsor Home Hardware for the 13^th straight year with associate sponsors Bank of Montreal, Subway, and CCM. 

 The game will be broadcast live to a national audience on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Quebec beginning at 7:00 pm Pacific and available online through Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

 The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will mark the 17^th 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.  Ticket packages are still available for the two-day event and can be purchased at http://www.selectyourtickets.com/prospects.php or by calling 250-762-5050.

Gaunce and Pearson Named Team Orr and Team Cherry Alternate Captains / Subban to To Miss The Game

Toronto, ON - The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Western Hockey League Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club and Home Hardware Stores Limited today announced the captains and alternate captains for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game to be played February 1 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC.

 Colton Sissons of the host Kelowna Rockets will captain Team Orr which will be coached by Pat Quinn, while Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips will be captain for Team Cherry which is coached by Mark Recchi.  Alternate captains for Team Orr include Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts and Tanner Pearson of the Barrie Colts, with Brendan Gaunce of the Belleville Bulls and Martin Frk of the Halifax Mooseheads serving as alternate captains for Team Cherry.

 Sissons, an 18-year-old from North Vancouver, BC, is the top ranked WHL forward at number 14 in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.  Playing in his second WHL season, Sissons also serves as captain of the Rockets where he has 36 points in 48 games so far this season.  Team Orr’s alternate captains both competed at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship with Grigorenko earning a silver medal with Russia and Pearson winning bronze with Canada.  Grigorenko is the top ranked QMJHL forward at number two overall and leads all rookies with 60 points in 38 games for the Remparts.  Pearson, ranked 22 by NHL Central Scouting, is currently second in OHL scoring with 70 points in 37 games for the Colts.

 Murray, an 18-year-old defenceman from White City, SK, will lead Team Cherry as the top ranked WHL skater for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft at number three among North American prospects.  He also captains the Silvertips and represented Canada at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.  Gaunce represents the OHL as an alternate captain on Team Cherry, also serving as an alternate for the Bulls where he leads the club with 44 points in 45 games as the number 11 ranked prospect.  The Mooseheads’ Frk is the second highest ranked QMJHL skater for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft at number 25 and has 10 points in 14 games since returning from injury after posting 50 points in 62 games as a rookie last season. 

 Also announced today was the addition of goaltender Chris Driedger of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen to the Team Orr roster for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

 Driedger, a 17-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was ranked 12^th among North American Goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting in their midterm rankings.  At 6’2’’ and 186lbs, Driedger is playing in his second season and first with the Hitmen.  In 27 games he carries a record of 13-7-2-1 with one shutout and a goals-against-average of 2.86 and save percentage of .894.  Driedger replaces Malcolm Subban of the Belleville Bulls who is unable to participate due to injury. 

 The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is supported by title sponsor Home Hardware for the 13^th straight year with associate sponsors Bank of Montreal, Subway, and CCM. 

 The game will be broadcast live to a national audience on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Quebec beginning at 7:00 pm Pacific and available online through Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

 The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will mark the 17^th 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.  Ticket packages are still available for the two-day event and can be purchased athttp://www.selectyourtickets.com/prospects.php or by calling 250-762-5050.

Roster Changes Announced for 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Western Hockey League Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club and Home Hardware Stores Limited today announced that three players have been added to rosters for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game to be played February 1 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC.

Mike Winther of the Prince Albert Raiders, and Tim Bozon of the Kamloops Blazers have been added to the Team Cherry roster while Branden Troock of the Seattle Thunderbirds will suit up for Team Orr. The three players replace Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting, Jarrod Maidens of the Owen Sound Attack, and Matia Marcantuoni of the Kitchener Rangers who are all unable to participate due to injury.

Winther, an 18-year-old from Trochu, AB, is playing in his second WHL season with the Raiders. The 5’11’’, 170lb forward was ranked 26th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in their recent midterm rankings. In 45 games so far this season he has 39 points including a team-high 22 goals.

Bozon, a 17-year-old rookie from Lugano, Switzerland, is ranked 39th by NHL Central Scouting. At 6’1’’, 178lbs, the Blazers’ forward is tied for first among WHL rookies in scoring with 22 goals and 22 assists for 44 points in 44 games.

Troock, a 17-year-old Edmonton, AB, native is playing in his first full WHL season with the Thunderbirds. The big 6’3’’, 203lb power forward has 14 points in 34 games so far this season and was ranked 90th by NHL Central Scouting in their midterm rankings for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. 

The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is supported by title sponsor Home Hardware for the 13th straight year with associate sponsors Bank of Montreal, Subway, and CCM. 

The game will be broadcast live to a national audience on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Quebec beginning at 7:00 pm Pacific and available online through Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

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. Ticket packages are still available for the two-day event and can be purchased at http://www.selectyourtickets.com/prospects.php or by calling 250-762-5050.

DON HAY AND RYAN HUSKA TO JOIN COACHING STAFF FOR 2012 HOME HARDWARE CHL/NHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Western Hockey League Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club and Home Hardware Stores Limited today announced that Canadian National Junior Team Head Coach Don Hay and Team Canada Assistant Coach Ryan Huska will serve as Associate Coaches in the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game February 1 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC.

 Hay, who coaches the WHL’s Vancouver Giants will join Pat Quinn behind the bench for Team Orr, while Huska, who coaches the host Kelowna Rockets will work alongside Mark Recchi and Team Cherry.

 “Coaching Team Orr with my good friend Pat Quinn will be a great experience and I am really looking forward to working with him and the players in Kelowna at the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game,” said Coach Hay.  “This is a great event for the players who have a tremendous opportunity playing in front of NHL scouts and alongside other top prospects from around the CHL.”

 Both Hay and Huska recently earned bronze medals at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship with Team Canada.  Both coaches were participating in the event for the second time with Hay winning gold as Head Coach in the 1995 event in Red Deer, while Huska earned silver last as an Assistant Coach with Team Canada last season in Buffalo. 

 “Being a part of a special event like the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is exciting, and to be involved with it hosted here in Kelowna makes it that much more special,” said Coach Huska.  “I know how much this game means to the players and it will be fun to work with the prospects alongside Mark Recchi who had a tremendous career in our league and in the NHL.”

 Hay’s coaching record in the WHL is among the best ever currently ranking fourth overall in wins while capturing three MasterCard Memorial Cup titles, most recently in 2007 with the Giants.  Huska won a WHL Championship with the Rockets in 2009 and also won three Memorial Cups as a player with the Kamloops Blazers before adding a fourth title in 2004 as an Assistant Coach with the Rockets.

 Also announced today was the addition of defenceman Brett Kulak of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants to the Team Cherry roster for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

 Kulak, an 18-year-old from Stony Plain, Alberta, was ranked 67^th among North American Skaters in the midterm draft rankings released by NHL Central Scouting.  At 6’1’’ and 175lbs, Kulak is playing in his first full season with the Giants and has 11 points in 42 games.  He will be replacing defenceman Slater Koekkoek of the Peterborough Petes who is unable to participate due to injury. 

 The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is supported by title sponsor Home Hardware for the 13^th straight year with associate sponsors Bank of Montreal, Subway, and CCM. 

 The game will be broadcast live to a national audience on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Quebec beginning at 7:00 pm Pacific and available online through Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

Pat Quinn and Mark Recchi to Coach Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Western Hockey League Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club and Home Hardware Stores Limited today announced that hockey icons Pat Quinn and Mark Recchi will serve as coaches for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game to be played February 1 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC. 

 Both Quinn and Recchi will be participating in the event for the first time with Quinn serving behind the bench for Team Orr, and Recchi for Team Cherry.  Quinn’s Team Orr roster includes top prospects such as Team Russia World Junior Championship silver medalist Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts, and Team Canada bronze medalist Tanner Pearson of the Barrie Colts.  Recchi’s Team Cherry roster also includes a pair of World Junior Championship medalists including Russia’s Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting, and Canada’s Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips. 

 "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," commented CHL Vice-President and WHL Commissioner Ron Robison.  "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 British Columbia this season."

 Quinn’s NHL playing career began in 1968 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he also played for the Vancouver Canucks and the Atlanta Flames. He began coaching in the NHL in 1977, and has been behind the bench for Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto, and most recently, the Edmonton Oilers. Quinn is a two time winner of the Jack Adams Trophy as NHL coach of the year, and has also been a General Manager with Vancouver and Toronto.  At the Junior level, Quinn has played, coached and is now in the ownership group of the Vancouver Giants. Not only does his name appear on the Memorial Cup as part of the Giants' win in 2007, but he also won the Memorial Cup as a player in 1963 with the Edmonton Oil Kings. Quinn won a gold medal as the coach of team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships in 2009. Quinn has also coached Canada to an Olympic Gold Medal in 2002.

 Recchi had an outstanding junior hockey career with the Kamloops Blazers where his number 8 was retired by the team shortly after he left for the NHL.  He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins (67th overall), first playing in the NHL in 1988, and was a key player in their Stanley Cup winning side in 1991, the first of three Stanley Cups.  He played a total of 1,652 NHL games producing 1,533 points.  His best NHL season was as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers where he set a single season franchise point record with 123 points in 1992-93.  He won his second Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes before scoring his 500th career goal one season later on January 26, 2007, on a power play against the Dallas Stars as a Penguin.  Recchi capped off a remarkable NHL career winning the Stanley Cup for the third time with the Boston Bruins last season.  Recchi  is part of the Kamloops Blazers ownership group together with majority owner Tom Gaglardi and former players Jarome Iginla, Shane Doan and Darryl Sydor.

 The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is supported by title sponsor Home Hardware for the 13^th straight year with associate sponsors Bank of Montreal, Subway, and CCM. 

 The game will be broadcast live to a national audience on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Quebec beginning at 7:00 pm Pacific and available online through Sportsnet Radio the FAN 590.

 The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will mark the 17^th 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.  Ticket packages are still available for the two-day event and can be purchased athttp://www.selectyourtickets.com/prospects.php or by calling 250-762-5050.

For more information including rosters and historical stats please visit www.homehardwaretopprospectsgame.com

Home Hardware Top Prospects Rosters Announced

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the three regional leagues, the Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club, and Home Hardware Stores Limited, today announced the 40 CHL players that will compete in the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC, on February 1, 2012.

 “The Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game showcases 40 of the league’s top prospects eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft,” said CHL President David Branch.  “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.”

 30 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,” said NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr.  “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.”

 The rosters include all three players that were ranked first overall in their regional league according to NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Draft Rankings including Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting, Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts, and Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips.  Murray, along with Tanner Pearson of the Barrie Colts, will compete in this event after representing Canada at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.

 “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 Nugent-Hopkins became the tenth player to compete in this event since 1996 to be selected with the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft.  19 CHL players in total from the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game that were selected among the record 21 CHL players chosen in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft along with 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.

“Home Hardware proudly congratulates the 40 players selected to represent their hometowns and CHL teams in the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game,” said Paul Straus, President and CEO of Home Hardware Stores Limited.  “On behalf of the Home Dealer-Owners at more than 1,080 stores, I would like to wish all players the best of luck in Kelowna and look forward to the excitement of the game and seeing the players selected by NHL teams in the draft this June.”

 Coaches and support staff for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be announced at a later date.

 The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is also supported by associate sponsors Bank of Montreal, Subway, and CCM.  The game will be broadcast live to a national audience on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Quebec beginning at 7:00 pm Pacific.

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.  Ticket packages are still available for the two-day event and can be purchased at http://www.selectyourtickets.com/prospects.php or by calling 250-762-5050.