Nolan Patrick will be front and center at the 2017 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Patrick, first in Future Considerations’ Fall Ranking for the 2017 NHL Draft, was among the 40 players named to the showcase at Videotron Centre in Quebec City on Jan. 30, 2017.
“The Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is one of the highlights of the hockey season and a truly special experience for players from across the CHL,” said CHL President David Branch in a release. “Since 1996 this event has annually featured the next wave of NHL talent showcasing their skills before hundreds of NHL scouts and General Managers. We look forward to January 30 with 40 of the top CHL players eligible for the 2017 NHL Draft competing before the passionate hockey fans in Quebec City and to CHL fans across Canada watching live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.”
Patrick has four goals and nine points in six games this season but has not played since Oct. 11 because of an upper-body injury.
The 18-year-old was named WHL rookie of the year in 2014-15, and had 41 goals and 102 points in 72 regular season games for Brandon in 2015-16. He added 13 goals and 30 points in 21 games en route to helping Brandon to the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions.
Patrick will have some impressive company joining him at the game.
Gabe Vilardi (No. 3), Maxime Comtois (5), Nicolas Hague (7), Owen Tippett (8) and Cal Foote (10) will also participate in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Each is ranked in the top-10 at Future Considerations.
In all, 14 players ranked in the first round have been invited to attend.
TEAM CHERRY
Goaltenders: Ian Scott (Prince Albert Raiders), Stuart Skinner (Lethbridge Hurricanes).
Defencemen: Cal Foote (Kelowna Rockets), Antoine Crête-Belzile (Blainville Boisbriand-Armada), Cale Fleury (Kootenay Ice), Henri Jokiharju (Portland Winterhawks), Pierre-Olivier Joseph (Charlottetown Islanders), Artyom Minulin (Swift Current Broncos).
Forwards: Maxime Comtois (Victoriaville Tigres), MacKenzie Entwistle (Hamilton Bulldogs), Jake Leschyshyn (Regina Pats), Ivan Lodnia (Erie Otters), Antoine Morand (Acadie-Bathurst Titan), Nolan Patrick (Brandon Wheat Kings), Isaac Ratcliffe (Guelph Storm), Adam Ruzicka (Sarnia Sting), Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack), Robert Thomas (London Knights), Owen Tippett (Mississauga Steelheads), Gabe Vilardi (Windsor Spitfires)
TEAM ORR
Goaltenders: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires), Alex D’Orio (Saint John Sea Dogs).
Defensemen: Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads), Jacob Paquette (Kingston Frontenacs), Markus Phillips (Owen Sound Attack), Eemeli Rasanen (Kingston Frontenacs), Conor Timmins (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), Juuso Valimaki (Tri-City Americans).
Forwards:
Sasha Chmelevski (Ottawa 67’s), Alex Formenton (London Knights), Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), Cody Glass (Portland Winterhawks), Nico Hischier (Halifax Mooseheads), Kole Lind (Kelowna Rockets), Stelio Mattheos (Brandon Wheat Kings), Nikita Popugayev (Moose Jaw Warriors), Michael Rasmussen (Tri-City Americans), Nate Schnarr (Guelph Storm), Matthew Strome (Hamilton Bulldogs), Kailer Yamamoto (Spokane Chiefs).