When it was announced late last year that the CHL (Canadian Hockey League) would be holding its Top Prospects Game at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Jan. 15, I jumped at the chance to attend it.
After all, how often was I going to see the best draft-eligible players in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Western Hockey League (WHL), play under one roof before they move on to the National Hockey League (NHL)?
Plus, unlike the all-star games in the pros, this game was actually an exciting one that had intensity, with Team Orr edging out Team Cherry by a score of 4-3.
As a junior hockey diehard, it was amazing to see so many top players that I had only seen via You Tube highlights.
Plus, there were a number of different storylines among the 40 players who took part in the game than just the final outcome, which I discovered when I had the opportunity to chat with a few of them after the game in a media scrum near the dressing rooms.
For starters, there was Calgary Hitmen defender Ben Thomas, who got to take to the ice in his hometown rink in a completely different atmosphere from what he was used to in the WHL.
“There were quite a few more fans than a regular league game, and you are now playing with guys that you may be facing on another team a week from now,” he said. “It makes things pretty unique, but to be honest, I felt more comfortable being on my home ice than I would have been if I had been playing on another rink.”
Across the hall from him was Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds forward Jared McCann, who blasted home the game-winning goal on a beautiful long-range wrist shot which earned Player of the Game honours for his efforts.
While some might view this as a feather in their cap, McCann viewed the Player of the Game award in a completely different manner than some might expect.
“It’s not something that I view as a confidence booster or anything like that,” McCann said.
“When I head back to Sault Ste. Marie, I’m not planning to change anything. I’m just going to play my two-way game that they want me to play from here on out.”
As is often the case, the press core was flocking around the top NHL draft prospects for this year’s draft, with Sam Reinhart and Aaron Ekblad getting the most attention.
However, and much to my surprise, no one was around Germany native and Prince Albert Raiders forward Leon Draisaitl, who is the second-ranked North American based prospect going into the 2014 NHL draft according to the league’s central scouting bureau.
Being able to chat one-on-one with him was quite an experience, especially when he talked with honesty about how he performed with so many eyes watching him.
“I don’t think I played a really good game, as I have had better nights,” Draisaitl said. “It’s not like I was bad or anything, but it was more of an average game for me.”
“However, this was a great experience to play with so many great guys, and it’s something I won’t soon forget,” he added.
For me, Draisaitl’s line summed up the evening for me beautifully.
Sure it was one game and it’s not ‘end all be all’ as Ekblad put it in his interview with the media.
But for a junior hockey diehard like myself, it reminded me why I loved this level of the sport so much.
