Top 40 CHL Players Eligible for this Year's NHL Entry Draft on Display Wednesday at Centrium
January 21, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
With the Sherwin Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects game coming out west this year, the Red Deer Rebels were the natural choice to host the event.
Rebels president/GM/head coach Brent Sutter approached the Western Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League to express interest in hosting the contest and received a thumbs up from both parties.
As a result, the 40 highest regarded North American major junior players eligible for the 2019 NHL entry draft will be on display Wednesday at the Centrium, where Team Cherry will take on Team Orr.
"The NHL and Central Scouting has been recently going into smaller buildings to play these game," said Sutter. "Last year it was in Guelph (Ont.) and Kelowna has also hosted it.
"It's a great opportunity for the community as well as Red Deer and Central Alberta fans to see some elite hockey. You're getting the top class of all the CHL players available for this year's NHL draft. You have the elite level talent for this age group."
Unlike a regular all-star game, the players involved in the Top Prospects contest go all out with the knowledge that they'll be performing in front of numerous NHL talent evaluators.
"It's certainly a good experience for the players and they need to enjoy the experience," said Sutter. "It's also a showcase for them to go out and play well because they know every NHL general manager and his scouting staff will be watching them play."
While the game is a measuring stick for the players in regards to going up against their CHL peers, it's not a make-or-break event, especially for the higher-ranked players.
"It can certainly change the dynamics for an individual if he stands out. Impressions are everything for a player who may be ranked a bit lower," said Sutter.
"Normally all the kids playing in this game are drafted the same year. I don't think everything is measured on (NHL) teams doing their (evaluation) lists. I don't think the game is a do-all or end-all for the players but it certainly helps if everyone plays well in it."
Sutter will join Ron MacLean and London Knights GM/head coach Dale Hunter on the Team Cherry bench.
"It's awesome," said Sutter. "I've done it before (in 2001 in Calgary) when Don (Cherry) was on the bench with me."
Rebels forward Oleg Zaytsev, ranked 37th among North American skaters in the latest Central Scouting rankings, will suit up for Team Cherry.
"Oleg is excited and maybe a little nervous," said Sutter.
See the Top Prospects game rosters at reddeerrebels.com (posted on Jan. 9).
Notable: Rebels forward Alex Morozoff is No. 182 on the most recent Central Scouting list while Ethan Anders is ranked 13th among CHL goaltenders eligible for the 2019 NHL entry draft . . . Rebels overage forward Jeff de Wit is expected to play against the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers and Prince George Cougars Friday and Saturday after leaving last Saturday's game versus Lethbridge and then missing Sunday's game in Calgary with an upper body injury. Meanwhile, Alex Alexeyev also left Saturday's game on a temporary basis, but after playing the remainder of the contest couldn't go Sunday in Calgary. The Russian rearguard is listed as week-to-week with an upper body injury.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2019
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- Three Hitmen Named Among Top Skaters for 2019 NHL Draft - Calgary Hitmen
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- 48 WHL Players Highlight NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings - WHL
- Rockets Recognized by NHL Central Scouting Bureau - Kelowna Rockets
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