HEADLINE

CJHL PROSPECTS GAME CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS

Monday, December 7, 2009

The 2005 CJAHL Prospects Game in Yorkton, Saskatchewan marked an array of firsts for the Canadian Junior Hockey League.

This was the inaugural year of the CJHL Prospects Game, the first national event for the CJHL as a governing body, the first time the CJHL had showcased its draft eligible players, and the first time the CJHL and NHL Central Scouting had partnered together.

The partnership between the CJHL and National Hockey League continued to develop, and in May of 2009 a ground breaking agreement was formed. The new partnership between the NHL, Hockey Canada and the CJHL was created to grow the Junior A game across the country through its three trademark events - the CJHL Prospects Game, World Junior A Challenge and National Junior A Championship. NHL Central Scouting also compiles the Top 20 CJHL Rankings released weekly throughout the season.

The CJHL Prospects Game was created to showcase the top 40 NHL draft eligible players in the Canadian Junior Hockey League. "This event reflects the increased effort of the CJHL to provide exposure to its athletes," said CJHL Chairman Paul Lake. Player selection is a joint initiative of the CJHL and NHL Central Scouting. The event has now developed into two consecutive games between Team East and Team West, which will be well attended by scouts from the NHL and Canadian and American colleges and universities.

The CJHL Prospects Game will see players from the CJHL's five Western leagues, the British Columbia Hockey League, the Alberta Junior Hockey League, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, the Manitoba Hockey League and the Superior International Hockey League compete against the best players from the CJHL'S Eastern leagues, the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Junior A Hockey League, the Central Canadian Hockey League, Central Junior Hockey League, the Ligue de Hockey Junior AAA du Quebec and the Maritime Junior A Hockey League.

The CJHL Prospects Game was hosted in Western Canada for the first three years of the event, then moved to the Eastern Province of PEI in 2008. The CJAHL underwent a branding initiative in 2008, as a result the League was newly identified as the CJHL and the Prospects Game was recognized as the "2008 CJHL Prospects Game".

The CJHL is proud to bring the event back to Winkler, Manitoba in 2009, "The Canadian Junior Hockey League is thrilled to be heading back to Winkler again," said CJHL Chairman Paul Lake. "We received tremendous support in 2007 when we were there last and we are looking forward to another first class event this year as they welcome our best prospects once again."

Team East and Team West will playoff for the President's Cup, which is awarded to the winning team at the CJHL Prospects Game.

2008 - Team East defeated Team West 6-3 in Summerside, PEI
2007 - Team East defeated Team West 5-3 in Winkler, Manitoba
2006 - Team West defeated Team East 6-2 in Vernon, British Columbia
2005 - Team West defeated Team East 5-4 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan

Alumni of the CJHL Prospects Game continue to succeed with careers in the NHL, North American Colleges and Universities, and a variety of professional Leagues. Thirty of the forty participants in the inaugural 2005 CJHL Prospects Game have graduated to NCAA rosters, four to Canadian Interuniversity Sport careers and three to professional leagues (North American Hockey League and American Hockey League).

Four alumni of the CJHL Prospects Game have been selected in the 1st Round of the NHL Entry Draft, including Kyle Turris (BCHL), Riley Nash (BCHL), Joe Colborne (AJHL) and Dylan Olsen (AJHL).

From December 7th - 9th, 2009 the community of Winkler and the province of Manitoba will host the Canadian Junior Hockey League Prospects Games. Manitoba will once again open its doors to the Canadian Junior Hockey League as the 2010 National Junior A Championship, the 2010 RBC Cup, will be held in Dauphin, Manitoba from May 1-9, 2010.