prospects game tonight

[Phil Margonis]

how good a game is this going to be? it's going to be sick. these kids are goin hard tonight for the scouts. they all want to showcase themselves because every hockey scout there is will be at this event

i hope Petro looks good

should be a great game

[GoDogsGo]

where is the game....

[Phil Margonis]

edmonton so 9pm eastern time

[RioBravo]

Is it on TV?

[Quizzer83]

Who needs TV when you can see the game in person? :-)

[RioBravo]

Who needs TV when you can see the game in person? :-)

Exactly the thing...I can't just take my magic carpet over to Edmonton.

[WellandDogsFan]

Enjoy the game Quizzer!!

Yes the game is on Rogers SportsNet at 9PM. Thats the channel that AD affectionately calls the Poker Channel.

[WellandDogsFan]

The skills competition was last night. This was taken from the OHL site:

OHL stars shine in Top Prospects Skills Competition

Created: Jan 23, 2008
http://cluster.leaguestat.com/download.php?client_code=ohl&w=220&file_path=img/pictures/TopProspects_OHL.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:void( window.open('http://cluster.leaguestat.com/download.php?client_code=ohl&file_path=img/pictures/TopProspects_OHL.jpg', 'News', 'width=360,height=260') ))
+ Enlarge (http://javascript<b></b>:void( window.open('http://cluster.leaguestat.com/download.php?client_code=ohl&file_path=img/pictures/TopProspects_OHL.jpg', 'News', 'width=360,height=260') ))

Edmonton, AB - The Top Prospects put on a show.

The 2008 CHL/NHL Home Hardware Skills Competition turned out to be a fun filled night at Rexall Place and fans got a sneak peak of just how good these kids are as the Top 40 Prospects in the country prepare for the All-Star showcase Wednesday night.

To say this year's draft is deep is an understatement.

About nine thousand fans turned out to witness the talent level and skills the best prospects in the world had to offer. They did not go home disappointed.

Team White coached by Grant Fuhr, Glenn Anderson and Don Nachbaur jumped out to the early lead after winning the Puck Control Relay with some nice moves from the winning team of Edmonton native Tyler Ennis of the Medicine Hat Tigers along with Zach Bogosian (http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/player.php?lang_id=en&id=4626) of the Peterborough Petes and Nicolas Deschamps from Chicoutimi. Kelsey Tessier of the Quebec Ramparts tied it up for Team Red coached by Lanny McDonald, Mike Vernon and Kelly Kisio after winning the one on one race with Cody Hodgson (http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/player.php?lang_id=en&id=4504).

The fastest skater of the night turned out to be Kelowna Rocket Brandon McMillan turning around the pylons and circling the rink with a blistering time of 13.897 seconds.

The hardest shot competition turned out to be a close call between a couple of Western Hockey League boys with Saskatoon's Jyri Niemi booming a 97 mph slap shot to edge Kelowna Rocket Luke Schenn's pair of 94 mph shots.

The sharp shooter of the night vaulting himself to Ray Bourque comparisons was Michael Del Zotto (http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/player.php?lang_id=en&id=4615) of the Oshawa Generals who was a deadly four-for-four picking his targets off one by one.

Team Red pulled ahead in the overall scoring with three more goals in the Breakaway relay which was highlighted by a shutout performance from Robert Mayer from the Saint John Sea Dogs from Team Red in the first round. Goalie Thomas McCollum (http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/player.php?lang_id=en&id=4518) of the Guelph Storm equaled the feat in the second round for Team White. That meant that Team Red had a commanding 10 - 5 lead heading into the fast and furious 3-on-3 challenge.

After a flurry of goals in the second half of the 3-on-3 game, Team Red prevailed by a final score of 17 - 9 wining the Lorne Davis Award in honor of the long time Edmonton Oilers scout that passed away recently after a bout with cancer.

The evening was also highlighted by a very humble and helpful group of local celebrities from the media including Jason Gregor from Just A Game on the TEAM 1260 who served as the night's co-host, the Bear's Todd James, Joe FM's Gary James, Ken Reid and Dave Mitchell from CFRN TV, Bob Stauffer of the TEAM 1260, John Sexsmith of Global Sports, Min Dhariwal of CBC and Nick Lees (http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/player.php?lang_id=en&id=1187) from the Edmonton Journal.

Glenn Anderson even laced up the skates and took a spin afterwards to take some shots on the BEAR's morning show DJ's Paul Brown and Yukon Jack for their $10,000 Charity Challenge. Glenn took it pretty easy on the announcers who won't be giving up their day jobs anytime soon.

Next up will be the 2008 CHL/NHL Home Hardware Top Prospects Game on Wednesday night (9:00 p.m. Eastern on Rogers Sportsnet).

[WellandDogsFan]

From the Dogs site:

HOCKEY'S NEXT GENERATION TO STRUT THEIR STUFF

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 - 04:06PM
Courtesy Sunaya Sapurji (Toronto Star reporter)

Before Niagara IceDogs defenceman Alex Pietrangelo boarded a plane for Edmonton and the CHL's Top Prospects game, he got some sage advice from teammate Stefan Legein.

"I told him to relax and have fun," said Legein, who scored in last year's event. "There's nothing to get stressed out about, it's just a hockey game."

Pietrangelo is among 40 of the Canadian Hockey League's best draft eligible players to skate in the showcase tonight at Rexall Place. NHL Central Scouting and the 30 NHL general managers were polled on who should be selected for tonight's game, meaning the field will be heavily scrutinized.

And while one game isn't enough to make or break a hockey career, Legein knows playing well can put you on the map. He was a late addition to the lineup last year after an injury sidelined Vancouver forward Spencer Machacek.

"That was one of the first times I really got my name out there to all the scouts," said the 19-year-old. "No one really knew who I was."

Once his name was out there, scouts took notice of the Oakville native's skill and tenacity, and Legein parlayed the momentum into becoming the Columbus Blue Jackets' second-round draft pick (37th overall) at the June draft. He was signed by the Blue Jackets in November to a three-year contract.

Earlier this month, Legein brought home a gold medal as part of Canada's world junior squad, though he was unable to finish the final against Sweden after suffering a separated shoulder.

"It's getting better, I'm pretty close to getting back in the lineup," said Legein, adding he's expecting to be back the first week of February.

Legein has managed to average slightly more than a point per game this season with 17 goals and 10 assists in 24 games in a year fraught with injuries, though that's little consolation.

"There were a lot of things I wanted to do this year that I didn't get done," said Legein.

[AlphaDog]

"I told him to relax and have fun," said Legein, who scored in last year's event. "There's nothing to get stressed out about, it's just a hockey game."

Just a game that could determine where he plays his professional hockey, when he starts playing it, how much he'll earn, how much his future kids will have in their college fund, etc, etc. :p That's how I'd end up looking at it if I was in his position.

And if anyone wants to know how to live the rest of their life under needless self-imposed stress, I'm the man you want to talk to :p

I'm in Welland tonight until 9:30 (school) but hopefully won't miss too much of the game. Good luck Petro !!!

[AlphaDog]

"I told him to relax and have fun," said Legein, who scored in last year's event. "There's nothing to get stressed out about, it's just a hockey game."

Just a game that could determine where he plays his professional hockey, when he plays it, how much he'll earn, how much his future kids will have in their college fund, etc, etc. :p That's how I'd end up looking at it if I was in his position.

And if anyone wants to know how to live the rest of their life under needless self-imposed stress, I'm the man you want to talk to :p

[WellandDogsFan]

Actually thats really good advice from Legein. Just relax, go out and have a good time.

[AlphaDog]

Actually thats really good advice from Legein. Just relax, go out and have a good time.

OH yah definitely. As long as you can manage to put yourself in that mindset. I wouldnt' be able to. I worry about anything that CAN be worried about. If he goes in there without thinking about it and just plays a simple game of hockey, he'll do well. I just hope he doesn't go into the game with the mindset that it's his 'big opportunity to impress' because that's usually when players make those bad passes, hold on to the puck to long, etc, etc.

He'll be fine though.. .that's why I call him the Iceman - the guy never panics. Smooooooth as ice.

[WellandDogsFan]

AD, you need to learn how to relax!:D

[VERBATIM]

He'll be fine though.. .that's why I call him the Iceman - the guy never panics. Smooooooth as ice.

Excuse me I am the Original Ice man - Nothing in the world has ever made me worry about anything.
Like Legien said it's just a game but He has already been drafted, easy to say not to worry, just go out do what you do have fun doing it or it's not worth doing.
It's your face in the mirror you have to look into every morning as long as your happy thats what count's.:cheers2:

[cope]

He has had scouts and GM's watching and talking to him for the last few games, this game is just to give scouts a better chance to preveiw the stars. Petro is a star and has been a top prospect and been scouted as one for months.

To him, it just is another game to go out and preform in front of people that have already been watcing him play.

[habsfan]

Good advice from Legein. Really good article. You do need to think of it as just another game and not stress. BUT you certainly need to work your buns off cause it really isn't just another game (yes that's a complete contradiction). The hockey world is scrutinizing this game and Pietro's play tonight.

I'll miss all of it as I have a game tonight roughly at the same time. So please report your observations here! Thanks

[Phil Margonis]

Petro threw a big hitminside their blueline to keep the puck in and it led directly to a goal. the red team got killed but Petro looked solid for the most part. def one of the best d-men on the red team

[habsfan]

Petro threw a big hitminside their blueline to keep the puck in and it led directly to a goal. the red team got killed but Petro looked solid for the most part. def one of the best d-men on the red team

Heard about the hit but haven't seen it yet. Good to read he performed well, even if his team was creamed!