Ottawa to host 2006 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game

OTTAWA - The Canadian Hockey League and the NHL announced today that the 2006 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be played at Ottawa’s Corel Centre on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. The Ottawa Senators will work with the Ottawa 67’s to help put on the annual event, which will be telecast live across Canada on Rogers Sportsnet.

The top prospects game will showcase 40 of the CHL’s top players eligible for selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver.

"The Canadian Hockey League is very proud to award this showcase event to the city of Ottawa. The Senators and 67’s will partner to put on a world-class show at the Corel Centre," said CHL president David Branch. "It is one of the premiere facilities in the country and will be a fitting stage for this prestigious game.

"We are very thankful to the NHL and Home Hardware for their outstanding long-term support of this event. Without them, and the many other sponsors who support this game, we would not be afforded the opportunity to present these young men with the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of the entire NHL audience," added Branch.

Home Hardware continues as the title partner of the CHL Home Hardware Top Prospects Game for the seventh consecutive year. Home Hardware was also the first founding sponsor of Roger’s House -- a pediatric palliative-care facility scheduled to open this December in Ottawa.

"On behalf of Home Hardware dealers across the country, I take great pride in presenting this exciting hockey event to Ottawa fans and CHL fans who will be watching in Ottawa and also on television," said Bruce Shuh, Home Hardware marketing director. "Founded in 1964 by approximately 128 independent hardware dealers, Home Hardware has grown to include nearly 1,000 independently owned locations in communities across Canada, where the great frozen game is played."

"We are looking forward to having Hockey Country play host to another of the premiere hockey events of the season in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game," said Cyril Leeder, chief operating officer for the Senators and Corel Centre. "The game itself and events surrounding it are key components in NHL Central Scouting’s player ranking. It’s also a great opportunity for the players to have fun."

"The 67’s are thrilled to work with our friends and partners at the Senators on this important annual event, and I’m sure it will be a great success in Hockey Country," said Jeff Hunt, owner of the Ottawa 67’s.

The Senators and 67’s will announce at a later date additional player and fan events such as a skills competition planned for Tuesday, Jan.17.

The NHL’s 30 teams will select the 40 players to participate in the game. The announcement of the players will be made in early January.

More than 375 players have suited up in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and gone on to be selected in the NHL entry draft. The game has featured five players who were the first overall picks in the NHL entry draft ÷ Chris Phillips (1996), Joe Thornton (1997), Vincent Lecavalier (1998), Rick Nash (2002) and Marc-AndrŽ Fleury (2003).

Participants from the 2005 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game include Bobby Ryan, Benoit Pouliot and Carey Price, who, along with Sidney Crosby, were all selected in the Top five at the NHL Entry Draft held in Ottawa on July 30. Fourteen other game participants were also selected in the draft’s first round.

Ottawa’s NHL and OHL clubs combined to host a 67’s game at the Corel Centre in December 2004, welcoming 20,081 fans for event -- a CHL record.

Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game -- Results