The best players from the 2024 CHL Top Prospects Game in Moncton Tij Iginla. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Champagne/The WHL. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzODY4MTI5NTAyMTc2NzYz/iginla_tij.jpg] Tij Iginla. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Champagne/The WHL. MONCTON, NB - The CHL Top Prospects Game brings together the top draft hopefuls from across major junior every year and the 2024 event just popped off in Moncton, home of the QMJHL's Wildcats. And while the first picks off the board this summer will likely come from other ranks - Boston University's Mack Celebrini is the consensus No. 1, while Russia boasts intrigue in Anton Silayev and Ivan Demidov - the talent was certainly there in Moncton. Here are the players that stood out the most in my mind (positions based on Central Scouting's mid-term rankings): Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna (WHL) - The player of the game for Team White, Iginla had excellent chemistry on a line with Berkly Catton and Terik Parascak. Iginla makes space for himself with his stickhandling and he's great at creating offensive chances. Yes, he's Jarome's son, but Tij has already staked out his own style. Liam Greentree, RW, Windsor (OHL) - The other great line in the game was also on Team White and it was Greentree with Jett Luchanko and Beckett Sennecke. Greentree sniped one for the game's opening goal on a broken rush and you can tell he's got that scoring hunger - he had a number of dangerous chances on the night. Colton Roberts, D, Vancouver (WHL) - With his size (nearly 6-foot-4 and 192 pounds) and defensive acumen, Roberts certainly has a lot going for him. But his beauty pass to set up Ben Danford's goal showed off impressive vision and execution; he's got some offense back there, as well. Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie (OHL) - While his skating has been knocked all year, I didn't feel like it held him back in this game. Beaudoin muscled off a defender to create a turnover behind the net and get a scoring chance in the first period and made a nice play on defense to snuff out a chance later on. He's definitely got a power forward frame. Raoul Boilard, C, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) - Team Red's player of the game ended up with two goals and three points, including the empty-netter that sealed the win. Excellent vision; his pass to Roberts led to the Danford goal. Cleaned up in the crease for his own goal. Overall, a solid two-way center. Eriks Mateiko, LW, Saint John (QMJHL) - An injury replacement for the game, Mateiko made the most of his opportunity, showing off a great power game with lots of physicality. He uses his frame well and at nearly 6-foot-6 and 208 pounds, it's not hard picturing him in the NHL in some type of role down the road. Ryerson Leenders, G, Mississauga (OHL) - Overall, the goaltending was very good in the game. I'm giving Leenders the nod because he had to make some really tough saves early in the contest and only got beat once, on the Greentree rocket. Leenders showed great quickness to stop Catton on the rush by stretching across his crease. Calm under pressure, which is always a nice attribute in net. Tanner Howe, LW, Regina (WHL) - I really liked how feisty and gritty Howe played, especially since he's not a big kid and has put up a lot of points for the Pats over the past few seasons. Surprising amount of power in his game; he did not look fun to play against. Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary (WHL) - Smooth skater made a couple impressive moves to get a good chance on net in the second, so maybe it shouldn't be surprising he's been a point-per-gamer with the Hitmen back in the 'Dub.' The size and the fact he's a right shot adds to Yakemchuk's overall appeal. Ben Danford, D, Oshawa (OHL) - Nice defensive work to snuff out an offensive opportunity early. You might not think of a Top Prospects Game as a place for defense, but there were a lot of good plays overall in this contest. Danford also buried a goal on one of the best passing sequences of the game.
