Tuesday night in Sherbrooke, Que., 40 of the best young draft prospects in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League got a chance to show their skills.
The players participated in the Q’s inaugural prospects game. It’s the first time the league has staged such a game, replacing the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Six members of the Saint John Sea Dogs and three Moncton Wildcats participated in the game. Wildcats head coach Gardiner MacDougall was behind the bench for Team Crosby.
The game ended with a 6-5 shootout victory for Team Lafleur over Team Crosby.
Sea Dogs winger Zachary Morin had a goal for Team Lafleur, and goaltender Rafaël Courchesne stopped 11 of 16 shots in 35 minutes of ice time. Courchesne also stopped two of three in the shootout. Sea Dogs centre William Yared also played for Team Lafleur.
For Team Crosby, Saint John winger Dylan Rozzi had a goal, while Wildcats winger Rian Chudzinski had a goal and an assist. Wildcats defenceman Tommy Bleyl added an assist, and Moncton goaltender Jacoby Weiner stopped 10 of 11 shots he faced in regulation. Sea Dogs Cameron Chartrand and Olivers Murnieks were also part of Team Crosby.
Before the game, Saint John head coach Travis Crickard said the game was a great opportunity for players.
“You don’t really get many opportunities to play in a best-on-best scenario,” Crickard said.
Because of the nature of the game, Crickard said it was exciting to have six members of his team participate.
“I mean it’s a prospect game,” he said. “So with that comes the attraction of the NHL draft.”
For Rozzi, being selected was a big compliment.
“I’m really honoured to be able to go to this game and showcase myself,” he said. “It’s not like I’m a guy that is guaranteed to get drafted, so I’m going to have to, especially with this game, I have to go out there and just prove myself.”
Chartrand also described being chose for the game as an honour.
“Especially being new to the league and being named to this game, it’s really exciting and it’s something I don’t take for granted,” he said.
