Two Kelowna Rockets crack the Top Prospects Game roster

Image Credit: Marissa Baecker

December 14, 2016 - 12:34 PM

KELOWNA - Two Kelowna Rockets players have been invited to compete in the 2017 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Centre Vidéotron in Quebec City on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017

Cal Foote has been named to team Cherry, and Kole Lind has been named to team Orr.

The Canadian Hockey League in association with the host Quebec Remparts Hockey Club, and title partner Sherwin-Williams, today announced the full 40 player roster that will compete in the Top Prospects Game.

The 40 CHL players competing in the game were chosen by all 30 NHL clubs and divided into teams by NHL Central Scouting. This season’s event marks the 22nd annual showcase of the CHL’s top-40 NHL Draft eligible players featuring talent from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Western Hockey League competing before hundreds of NHL scouts in attendance.

“The Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is one of the highlights of the hockey season and a truly special experience for players from across the CHL,” said CHL President David Branch. “Since 1996 this event has annually featured the next wave of NHL talent showcasing their skills before hundreds of NHL scouts and General Managers. We look forward to January 30 with 40 of the top CHL players eligible for the 2017 NHL Draft competing before the passionate hockey fans in Quebec City and to CHL fans across Canada watching live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.”

The rosters include 15 WHL players from 11 teams, with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Kelowna Rockets, Portland Winterhawks and Tri-City Americans each being represented twice. Also represented are the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs and Swift Current Broncos.

Highlighting the rosters are 10 WHL players who received ‘A’ ratings by NHL Central Scouting in the November Players to Watch list, including Nolan Patrick and Stelio Mattheos of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Cal Foote of the Kelowna Rockets, Nikita Popugaev of the Moose Jaw Warriors, Cody Glass and Henri Jokiharju of the Portland Winterhawks, Ian Scott of the Prince Albert Raiders, Kailer Yamamoto of the Spokane Chiefs, and Michael Rasmussen and Juuso Valimaki of the Tri-City Americans.
“As the Official Paint of the CHL, Sherwin-Williams is proud to sponsor the 2017 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game,” said Paul Clifford, President and General Manager, Sherwin-Williams. “We take great pride in making a difference in the communities we serve and we look forward to celebrating this great sport alongside these talented hockey players and their fans across Canada.”

Twenty-eight of the CHL’s 60 member clubs are represented on the rosters led by 19 OHL players from 11 different teams, 15 WHL players from 11 teams, and six QMJHL players from six teams. All 15 CHL players chosen in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft competed in last year’s game played in Vancouver. In 21 years, a total of 293 CHL players from this event have been chosen by NHL clubs in the first round of the NHL Draft representing 47 per cent of all players selected.

“The Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game provides a unique opportunity for NHL scouts and General Managers to evaluate top CHL talent for the 2017 NHL Draft in a best-on-best competition,” said NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr. “It’s also a unique opportunity for the players to take advantage of the spotlight in what is consistently an exciting and highly competitive showcase.”
Since the event was first introduced in 1996 the game has featured 13 players selected with the first overall pick in the NHL Draft including Connor McDavid, Aaron Ekblad, Nathan MacKinnon, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Patrick Kane, Marc-Andre Fleury, Rick Nash, Vincent Lecavalier, Joe Thornton, and Chris Phillips.

The 2016 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game featured 12 WHL players, including 2016 first round selections Jake Bean of the Calgary Hitmen, Lucas Johansen of the Kelowna Rockets, Brett Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors, Sam Steel of the Regina Pats, and 2016 CHL Goaltender of the Year Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips.

Team Cherry and Team Orr coaching staffs in addition to captains and alternates will be announced at a later date.

The game will be broadcast live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.