Forty-two OHL players on the NHL scouting radar will hit the ice in Brantford on Wednesday evening for an exciting, first-of-its-kind event for the Ontario Hockey League.
That event will feature a trio of North Bay Battalion players, including forwards Shamar Moses, Lirim Amidovski and defenceman Jacob LeBlanc.
Amidovski has netted 10 goals and six assists for 16 points in 37 games this season.
Moses, who came over in the Dalyn Wakely trade with the Barrie Colts, has nine goals and 23 assists for 32 points in his 31 games with the Battalion this season.
Overage defender Jacob LeBlanc has had a great season offensively where he has recorded six goals and 33 assists for 39 points.
Ryan Oulahen, Battalion head coach, says the team will get together and watch the game and he is thrilled for the Battalion trio.
"For those three players, I want them to go play with confidence," said Oulahen Wednesday afternoon.
"I think all three of them have have that kind of quiet confidence where I think they're gonna do really well tonight. You know, I'm really excited to watch them play. All three for different reasons of why I say that confidence, but I really do I think it's a it's a it's something that we can showcase."
The inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game pits the league’s top prospects from the Eastern Conference against those of the Western Conference and NHL scouts will be out in full force at the Brantford Civic Centre to witness this highly anticipated event.
Rosters were selected by a committee that included representatives from NHL Central Scouting with input from NHL General Managers along with OHL general managers Matt Turek (Brantford Bulldogs/Eastern Conference) and Dave Drinkill (Saginaw Spirit/Western Conference). Each team features 19 skaters and two goaltenders, with a pair of roster spots on each team filled by unsigned overage players at the request of NHL Central Scouting.
The Eastern Conference will serve as the home team and is led by three ‘A’ rated prospects on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list including forwards Porter Martone (Brampton Steelheads) and local star Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs) while Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts) brings physicality on the blueline. In goal, three-time Canadian gold medallist Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads) joins another local talent in David Egorov (Brantford Bulldogs). Sophomore forward Joshua Avery gives the host Brantford Bulldogs three players competing in the game.
The Eastern Conference will be staffed by representatives from the Brantford Bulldogs including Head Coach Jay McKee and assistants Vince Laise, Ryan Kuwabara and Laura Fortino. Support staff includes Athletic Therapist JP Laciak and Equipment Manager Chris Cook.
Across the ice, the Western Conference features A-rated talent in a quartet of former high-end OHL Priority Selection choices in forwards Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit), Malcolm Spence (Erie Otters) and Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds) with Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters) on the back end.
The Western Conference is staffed by representatives from the reigning Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Spirit including Head Coach Chris Lazary along with assistants Jake Grimes and Garrett Rutledge. Support staff includes Athletic Trainer Andrew Plate and Equipment Manager Lester Tiu.
The Saginaw Spirit leads all clubs with four players selected to the game followed by the Barrie Colts, Brampton Steelheads, Brantford Bulldogs, Erie Otters, Kitchener Rangers and Owen Sound Attack with three each.
