By Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

CHL’s best ready to shine in Red Deer

Jan 22, 2019 | 10:30 PM

This is not your typical all-star game. It’s a prime opportunity for the next crop of NHLers to impress their future employers.

GMs and scouts from all 31 NHL teams have their eyes on Red Deer for the Sherwin-Williams CHL NHL Top Prospects Game, featuring 40 top-ranked players for the 2019 NHL Draft.

Divided into Team Cherry and Team Orr, the players hit the ice for morning practices at the Centrium on Tuesday followed by afternoon off-ice testing at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. The two teams will go head-to-head at the Centrium on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

“We were all just blown away by 17-year-olds that are so skilled and so big,” said Ron MacLean, celebrity coach for Team Cherry.

What’s also clear is the players tapped to play in Wednesday’s game are perfectly comfortable in the spotlight and ready to strut their stuff in front of NHL brass.

get down there now!

Central Alberta Children's Festival on Saturday

Jun 06, 2026

Water Not Coal

Alberta musician Corb Lund to be in Red Deer next week for last-minute petition push

Jun 06, 2026

May 13 Incident

Ponoka RCMP charge two males following rural break and enter

Jun 05, 2026

At MacLean’s side as assistant coach for Team Cherry is Red Deer Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter. Former Edmonton Oiler Mark Hunter is also there.

Celebrity coach Kelly Hrudey is joined behind the bench for Team Orr by Prince Albert Raiders bench boss Marc Habscheid and one his former players from their days with the Kamloops Blazers, Robyn Regehr.

Red Deer Rebels forward Oleg Zaytsev, who has 29 points in 42 games in his rookie WHL season, is on the roster for Team Cherry.

Tickets for Wednesday’s game are available at ticketsalberta.ca.

The exclusive radio broadcast can be heard on 106.7 THE DRIVE starting at 7:30 p.m.

by Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

CHL’s best ready to shine in Red Deer

What's Trending