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WHL Everett Silvertips

Carter Hart Selected to Play in CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

January 7, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


EVERETT, Wash. - Everett Silvertips (@WHLSilvertips) goaltender Carter Hart has been named among 40 players selected to participate in the 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday, Jan. 28. The announcement was made in conjunction with the Canadian Hockey League in association with the host Vancouver Giants and title partner BMO Financial Group. Hart is scheduled to suit up for Team Orr.

The game will be hosted at Pacific Coliseum, home of the Vancouver Giants, located just 114 miles north of Everett. Tickets for the 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game are available at this link.

Hart, a 1998-born goaltender and eligible for the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, is currently in his second season with Everett and has posted a 39-17-2-6 record with 10 shutouts in 66 career WHL regular season appearances. He was recently given a "B" listing for the Central Scouting Service's "Players to Watch" list in November, represented Team WHL during this season's CHL Canada Russia Series and helped Hockey Canada capture the gold medal at the 2015 U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup tournament.

This season, the Sherwood Park, Alberta native leads the entire CHL in goals-against-average (1.97), leads the WHL in save percentage (.925), is tied for the CHL lead in shutouts (6), and is second in WHL wins (21). Hart's 10 career shutouts are tied for third on the Silvertips all-time shutout list. He was named WHL Goaltender of the Month for November and has earned the WHL Goaltender of the Week selection three times this season.

Last year, Hart led the WHL with a 2,29 goals-against-average in his first full season, helping guide the Silvertips to the U.S. Division title.

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 21st annual showcase of the CHL's top-40 NHL Draft eligible players featuring talent from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League competing before hundreds of NHL scouts in attendance.

"The BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is one of the highlights of the hockey season," said CHL President David Branch. "Since 1996 the CHL's top prospects have showcased their skills in this event providing NHL scouts, General Managers, and fans the opportunity to catch the next wave of NHL talent which in recent years has featured first overall picks Connor McDavid, Aaron Ekblad, Nathan MacKinnon, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. We look forward to January 28 with coaches Don Cherry and Bobby Orr, and 40 of the top CHL players eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft competing before the passionate hockey fans in Vancouver and to CHL fans across Canada watching live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports."

25 of the CHL's 60 member clubs are represented on the rosters. The 40 competing players include 20 from the OHL, 12 from the WHL, and eight from the QMJHL. 13 CHL Players who competed in the 2015 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in St. Catharines, ON, were selected in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft. In 20 years, 278 CHL players from this event have been chosen by NHL clubs in the first round of the NHL Draft representing 47% of all players selected.

"The BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game provides a unique opportunity for NHL scouts and General Managers to evaluate top CHL talent for the 2016 NHL Draft in a best-on-best competition," said NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr. "The game is 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.

Last season's CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at St. Catharines, Ontario (home of the OHL's Niagara IceDogs) featured Silvertips defenseman Noah Juulsen, playing in the game for Team Cherry. Five months later, Juulsen would be selected in the first round (26th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens.

The Silvertips return to play tomorrow, visiting Kelowna at 7:05pm (1380 AM/Shaw TV/WHL Live).

For more information visit www.everettsilvertips.com or call 425-252-5100. To keep up with all the latest team news and information, "like" the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter.

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