Orr, Cherry to coach Top Prospects Game

Aaron Vickers2016 Draft Center

The legendary Don Cherry and Bobby Orr will serve as coaches in the 2016 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 28 in Vancouver, BC.

The Top Prospects Game is the 21st annual showcase of the CHL’s top-40 NHL Draft eligible players featuring talent from across the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Players will compete before hundreds of NHL scouts in attendance in one of the most important single game events of the NHL Draft calendar.

“The BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game has evolved into a truly prestigious annual event for all of our players and fans thanks to the support of Don Cherry and Bobby Orr who have helped build this showcase since it first started in 1996,” said CHL President David Branch in a release. “The CHL is honoured that Don and Bobby are returning behind the bench in January for what will be a very special experience for the 40 players competing on the ice, and for hockey fans in Vancouver and across the entire CHL.”

Orr holds an 8-4 all-time record against Cherry in their previous 12 games. Cherry has participated in this event on three other occasions without Orr.

Since 2006, the winning team has been presented with the Don Cherry and Bobby Orr CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Trophy engraved with the names of every player to ever participate in this prestigious event.

Introduced in 1996 the game has featured 13 players eventually selected with the first overall pick in the NHL Draft, including Chris Phillips, Joe Thornton, Vincent Lecavalier, Rick Nash, Marc-Andre Fleury, Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nathan MacKinnon, Aaron Ekblad, and Connor McDavid.

Thirteen players who competed in the 2015 CHL Top Prospects Game were selected in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft.