2010 HOME HARDWARE CHL / NHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME LIVE ON ROGERS SPORTSNET

Pats - Jordan Weal in the NHL Prospect Game

– 40 of the Canadian Hockey League’s top NHL draft-eligible prospects, including 13 from the WHL, are set to take to the ice for the 2010 Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game on Wednesday, January 20th, in Windsor, ON.

Tonight’s Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game can be seen across Canada on Rogers Sportsnet (7:00pm EST; 5:00pm MST - 6:00 p.m. Regina Time).

The Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game is one of the biggest events on the hockey calendar, and allows the opportunity for the top draft-eligible prospects in the CHL to gather together and display their talents to NHL scouts and management. Now in its 14th year, the Top Prospects game is seen as one of the best vehicles for NHL teams to evaluate draft-eligible players.

Once again, Don Cherry and Bobby Orr will take charge of the two teams as honorary coaches.

Five WHL players will suit up for Team Orr, including Portland Winterhawks’ Swiss rookie Nino Niederreiter, who rose to prominence with his outstanding, All-Star performance for Switzerland at the 2010 World Junior Championship.

Also skating for Team Orr is Edmonton Oil Kings’ defenseman Mark Pysyk, who is the highest-ranked WHL defenseman in NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term rankings. Forward Quinton Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors, and defensemen Dylan McIlrath of the Warriors and Matt MacKenzie of the Calgary Hitmen are also on Team Orr.

Team Cherry will feature eight WHL players, including Medicine Hat Tigers’ rookie sniper Emerson Etem, who currently leads all first-year WHL players with 31 goals this season.

Also suiting up for Team Cherry are forwards Ryan Johansen and Brad Ross of the Portland Winterhawks and Jordan Weal of the Regina Pats, defensemen Austin Madaisky of the Kamloops Blazers, Alex Petrovic of the Red Deer Rebels and Troy Rutkowski of the Winterhawks, and top-rated goaltender Calvin Pickard of the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Pickard, the No. 1 ranked North American goalie in NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term rankings, follows his older brother Chet’s footsteps in participating in the Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game. Chet, who played for the Tri-City Americans, participated in the 2008 Top Prospects game, and was subsequently drafted by the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

WHL players Brett Connolly of the Prince George Cougars and Curtis Hamilton of the Saskatoon Blades were also selected to play in the Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game, but cannot participate due to injury.

The importance of the Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game cannot be overstated. Many of the NHL’s current stars participated in the event such as San Jose Sharks captain Patrick Marleau, Ottawa Senators defenseman Chris Phillips, Anaheim Ducks’ star Ryan Getzlaf, Calgary Flames rearguard Dion Phaneuf and Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price.