Saskatoon product Connor Zary tops the Central Saskatchewan content for the 25th annual C-H-L-N-H-L Top Prospects Game.

From 13 W-H-L players, Kamloops centre Zary and three others with ties to Prince Albert have been selected to play in the N-H-L Draft eligible contest next month in Hamilton. The three are P-A native and Brandon defenceman Braden Schneider plus a pair of Raiders in blueliner Kaiden Guhle and forward Ozzy Wiesblatt. The 40 players picked to play in the January 16 event will be split into two teams at a later date. Following is the news release from the C-H-L and the W-H-L…

13 WHL PLAYERS SELECTED FOR 2020 KUBOTA CHL/NHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League in association with National Hockey League Central Scouting announce the 40 players invited to compete in the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. From the Western Hockey League, 13 players have been selected to participate in this year’s event. The 25th annual showcase of top CHL players eligible for the NHL Draft takes place on Thursday January 16, 2020, and is hosted by the Hamilton Bulldogs. The 40 players selected were chosen by NHL clubs and feature talent from across the Ontario Hockey League, WHL, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. “All 31 NHL clubs have a say in the player selection process and take great interest in this best-on-best showcase,” said Dan Marr, Director of NHL Central Scouting. “The Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is a great opportunity for scouts and general managers to evaluate talent and we look forward to seeing which players will make their mark in Hamilton.” Among the players named to the preliminary roster are Canadian National Junior Team members such as CHL top scorer and reigning Player of the Year Alexis Lafreniere of the Rimouski Oceanic, fellow forwards Quinton Byfield of the Sudbury Wolves and Dawson Mercer of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, defenceman Jamie Drysdale of the Erie Otters, and goaltender Nico Daws of the Guelph Storm. Three more players including Cole Perfetti of the Saginaw Spirit, Connor Zary of the Kamloops Blazers, and defenceman Braden Schneider of the Brandon Wheat Kings will also compete after attending Canada’s Selection Camp for World Juniors. 31 of the CHL’s 60 member clubs are represented with a total of 17 OHL players from 13 different teams, 13 WHL players from 10 different teams, and 10 QMJHL players from eight different teams. Nine different teams have two players listed including Brandon, Drummondville, Kamloops, the Ottawa 67’s, Prince Albert Raiders, Shawinigan Cataractes, Soo Greyhounds, Sudbury, and the Windsor Spitfires. 19 of the players selected received ‘A’ ratings as first round candidates determined by NHL Central Scouting in their November Players to Watch list including 13 forwards and six defencemen. 17 players were given ‘B’ ratings including 11 forwards and six defencemen, while all four goaltenders were listed as ‘C’ rated prospects. WHL Players Selected for 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game:

For a full list of players selected to participate in the event, visit https://kubotatopprospects.ca/. The 40 players will be divided into teams by NHL Central Scouting and announced along with coaching staffs in January. 12 CHL players from last year’s game in Red Deer were chosen in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft led by Saskatoon Blades forward Kirby Dach picked third overall and currently competing as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. In 24 years, a total of 329 CHL players from this event have been chosen by NHL clubs in the first round of the NHL Draft representing close to 45% of all players selected. Since the event was first introduced in 1996 the game has featured 14 players selected with the first overall pick in the NHL Draft including Nico Hischier (2017), Connor McDavid (2015), Aaron Ekblad (2014), Nathan MacKinnon (2013), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), Taylor Hall (2010), John Tavares (2009), Steven Stamkos (2008), Patrick Kane (2007), Marc-Andre Fleury (2003), Rick Nash (2002), Vincent Lecavalier (1998), Joe Thornton (1997), and Chris Phillips (1996).