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Des Moines Buccaneers

Ruzicka Selected to USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

January 11, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Des Moines Buccaneers News Release


The Des Moines Buccaneers' Jan Ruzicka has been selected to play in the 2016 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Tuesday, January 12th.

Ruzicka will be one of four goaltenders to play in the exhibition at Ralston Arena in Omaha, Nebraska, home of the Lancers. The 40 players (24 forwards, 12 defensmen, 4 goaltenders) will be split into two teams, Team East and Team West, and Ruzicka will play for the East. This year's Top Prospects Game is the 4th game of its kind and Team East holds a 2-1 lead in the series.

Ruzicka enters the exhibition game having won his last two games improving his record to 10-9-1 with a goals against average of 3.20 and a save percentage of .894. Ruzicka is tied for 2nd in the league in shootout wins with 2 and is fifth in shootout save percentage at .875 having stopped 7 of the 8 shootout shots he has faced.

The exhibition game is an opportunity for the players to impress and garner attention from teams come the NHL draft. "By being selected for the event, these players have already captured the attention of NHL scouts," explains Bob Fallen, USHL President and Commissioner, "and the game provides them another opportunity to be evaluated among the best talent in their age group."

At the 2015 NHL draft there were 37 players selected that played in the USHL during the 2014-2015 season and Commissioner Fallen feels optimistic that the USHL will have similar success in the 2016 NHL Draft to be held June 24th and 25th in Buffalo, New York. "After a record-breaking NHL Draft in 2015 in which no junior league in the world had more draft picks than the USHL this should be a momentous year for the league and the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game."

The game will take place Tuesday, January 12th, at 7:05 PM Central Time from Ralston Arena. Tickets for the event can be purchased here and the game can also been seen online at www.fasthockey.com.

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