Prokop Named to 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Roster
December 6, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
RALSTON, NE - The United States Hockey League and the National Hockey League Central Scouting have announced the roster for the 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects game. The game will be played in Lincoln, NE at the Ice Box on Tuesday, Jan. 8.
Lancers defenseman John Prokop was selected to play in the annual showcase game for Team West. Prokop, a native of Wausau, WI was drafted in the 4th round, #49 overall by the Lancers in the 2018 USHL Entry Draft. Prokop has played in 11 games this season with Omaha dishing out 3 assists. The 6-foot-1 defender is committed to play college hockey at Miami University.
35 of the 40 players are currently committed to Division I college hockey programs. 22 different schools are represented in the game, including 11 programs with multiple commits: Michigan State University (3), Western Michigan University (3), Boston University (2), Harvard University (2), Miami University (2), Northeastern University (2), University of Massachusetts Lowell (2), University of Minnesota Duluth (2), University of Nebraska Omaha (2), University of North Dakota (2), University of Notre Dame (2).
The two-day event featuring the USHL's top NHL Draft-eligible talent will begin on Monday, Jan. 7 with off-ice measurements conducted by NHL Central Scouting and on-ice testing, with the game taking place on Tuesday night.
Last year USHL had 45 players who played in the League last season selected at the 2018 NHL Draft, the most in USHL history and at least 10 more than any other junior league in the world.
2019 marks the fifth consecutive year the USHL will host the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, and seventh year all-time. Previous hosts of the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game include the Muskegon Lumberjacks (2012 and 2013), Dubuque Fighting Saints (2015), Omaha Lancers (2016), Sioux Falls Stampede (2017) and Tri-City Storm (2018).
17 players who participated in the 2018 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game went on to be selected at the 2018 NHL Draft. In total, 93 players who have participated in the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game since 2012 have been selected in the NHL Draft, including four first-round selections: Shane Bowers (Ottawa Senators, 2017), Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets, 2015), Brock Boeser (Vancouver Canucks, 2015) and Jordan Schmaltz (St. Louis Blues, 2012). Other first round selections who were named to the game but were unable to participate due to injury include Eeli Tolvanen (Nashville Predators, 2017), Michael Matheson (Florida Panthers, 2012) and Zemgus Girgensons (Buffalo Sabres, 2012).
Coaching Staff, ticket information and other events surrounding the 2019 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be announced by the Lincoln Stars at a later date.
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