Tuesday, January 31, 2012

CHL TOP PROSPECTS SKILLS COMP PARTICIPANTS

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets and Home Hardware Stores Limited today announced the four events and participants for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Skills Competition set for Tuesday January 31 at 7:00 pm at Prospera Place.

40 of the CHL’s top prospects eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft have been divided into four different events including the Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Shooting Accuracy, and a Showdown Breakaway Contest where players will try and impress a panel of judges with their breakaway skills. Following the four events, all participants will have the ability to showcase their skills in a 3-on3 game before fans and scouts in attendance.

The best individual score in each event receives a goal for their team, with another goal awarded for the best team average from each event for a total of eight available goals. The 3-on-3 game consists of two 15-minute periods with running time with all goals scored counting towards the overall competition score.

Last year’s winners included Buffalo Sabres prospect Daniel Catenacci in the Fastest Skater competition, Kelowna Rocket Myles Bell in the Hardest Shot contest, Ottawa Senators prospect Matthew Puempel in the Shooting Accuracy, and Detroit Red Wings prospect Tomas Jurco in the Breakaway Challenge.

2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Skills Competition Participants:

Skill 1 – Fastest Skater

Team Orr:
Lukas Sutter (Saskatoon Blades)
Branden Troock (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Francis Beauvillier (Rimouski Oceanic)
Tomas Hyka (Gatineau Olympiques)

Team Cherry:

Brett Kulak (Vancouver Giants)
Damon Severson (Kelowna Rockets)
Mike Winther (Prince Albert Raiders)
Gemel Smith (Owen Sound Attack)

Skill 2 – Hardest Shot

Team Orr:
Matthew Finn (Guelph Storm)
Chandler Stephenson (Regina Pats)
Adam Pelech (Erie Otters)
Dalton Thrower (Saskatoon Blades)

Team Cherry:
Ryan Murray (Everett Silvertips)
Nick Ebert (Windsor Spitfires)
Coda Gordon (Swift Current Broncos)
Mathew Dumba (Red Deer Rebels)

Skill 3 – Shooting Accuracy

Team Orr:
Mikhail Grigorenko (Quebec Remparts)
Derrick Pouliot (Portland Winterhawks)
Gianluca Curcuruto (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton Oil Kings)

Team Cherry:
Dillon Fournier (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Tom Wilson (Plymouth Whalers)
Scott Laughton (Oshawa Generals)
Andrew Ryan (Halifax Mooseheads)

Skill 4 – Show-Down Breakaway Contest

Team Orr:
Scott Kosmachuk (Guelph Storm)
Tanner Pearson (Barrie Colts)
Andreas Athanasiou (London Knights)
Radek Faksa (Kitchener Rangers)
Colton Sissons (Kelowna Rockets)
Raphael Bussieres (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)

Team Cherry:
Tim Bozon (Kamloops Blazers)
Martin Frk (Halifax Mooseheads)
Daniil Zharkov (Belleville Bulls)
Brendan Gaunce (Belleville Bulls)
Dane Fox (Erie Otters)
Dominik Volek (Regina Pats)

Goaltenders:

Team Orr:
Francois Tremblay (Val d’Or Foreurs)
Chris Driedger (Calgary Hitmen)

Team Cherry:
Matthew Murray (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Brandon Whitney (Victoriaville Tigres)

The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is supported by title sponsor Home Hardware for the 13th straight year with associate sponsors Bank of Montreal, Subway, and CCM.

The game will be broadcast live to a national audience on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Quebec beginning at 7:00 pm Pacific and available online through Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will mark the 17th annual showcase of the CHL’s top-40 NHL draft eligible players. The two-day event also features a skills competition and three-on-three challenge taking place on Tuesday January 31, 2012. Ticket packages are still available for the two-day event and can be purchased at http://www.selectyourtickets.com/prospects.php or by calling 250-762-5050.

For more information including rosters and historical stats please visit www.homehardwaretopprospectsgame.com

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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