The yearly event will occur in Moncton, NB, on January 24, 2024.
The CHL has announced the 2024 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game participants, with 18 WHLers included. The annual event features on and off-ice fitness testing and a game featuring 40 of the CHL's top 2024 NHL Draft prospects. This year, 14 WHL clubs will be represented with the Spokane Chiefs, Medicine Hat Tigers, Tri-City Americans and Calgary Hitmen, each sending multiple players.
Behind the bench for Team Red will be former Saint John Sea Dogs and NHL head coach Gerard Gallant. In addition to leading the Sea Dogs to a Memorial Cup title in 2011 as their head coach, Gallant has coached over 700 games in the NHL, and he was awarded the Jack Adams Award following the 2017-18 season as the NHL's Coach of the Year. Moncton Wildcats head coach Daniel Lacroix, who will be Team Red's bench boss, will join Gallant. Meanwhile, on the other side, Team White will be led by head coach Jim Hulton of the Charlottetown Islanders. He will be joined by Mike Kelly, who has over 30 years of coaching experience in the NHL, AHL, OHL, QMJHL, and U SPORTS. Over his career, Kelly has served as an assistant coach on Gallant's staff with the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs.
Here are the 18 WHLers set to participate in the event:
Forwards
Andrew Basha– Medicine Hat Tigers
Berkly Catton Spokane Chiefs
Maxmilian Curran– Tri-City Americans
Tanner Howe – Regina Pats
Tij Iginla– Kelowna Rockets
Adam Jecho – Edmonton Oil Kings
Ollie Josephson– Red Deer Rebels
Cayden Lindstrom– Medicine Hat Tigers
Julius Miettinen – Everett Silvertips
Terik Parascak – Prince George Cougars
Ryder Ritchie – Prince Albert Raiders
Carson Wetsch – Calgary Hitmen
Defencemen
Harrison Brunicke– Kamloops Blazers
Charlie Elick – Brandon Wheat Kings
Defenceman Colton Roberts – Vancouver Giants
Cater Yakemchuk – Calgary Hitmen
Goaltenders:
Dawson Cowan– Spokane Chiefs
Lukas Matecha– Tri-City Americans