The Canadian Hockey League announced Monday the 40 players invited to compete in the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, including Kelowna Rockets forward Andrew Cristall.
Slated for January 25 at the Langley Events Centre, the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game showcases the top-40 CHL players eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft from across the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The 40 players were identified via a survey conducted with the NHL’s 32 teams.
In all, the 40 players count 19 from the WHL as well as 15 players from the OHL and six from the QMJHL. Additionally, 32 CHL clubs are represented by at least one player.
Team rosters and leadership groups for the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be announced at a later date.
The Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game was last held in Kitchener in March 2022 where Team White defeated Team Red 3-1. In all, 38 players who competed in the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game were chosen in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Since its reintroduction as the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in 1996, the event has featured 15 players who were later selected first overall in the NHL Draft including Alexis Lafreniere (2020), 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).
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Sending our congratulations to @AndrewCristall on being named to the @CHLHockey’s Top Prospects Game!#WDSE #WHL #NHLDraft #NHL #HockeyProspects #KelownaRockets #AndrewCristall #CHLKTP pic.twitter.com/oSB8Woax30
— WD Sports & Entertainment (@WD_sportsagency) December 13, 2022
Dance if you were named to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. https://t.co/DSrI55kWWY pic.twitter.com/ja2K5jBp2a
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) December 12, 2022
3⃣2⃣ CHL clubs will be represented at the 2023 @KubotaCanadaLtd CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game that will take place Jan. 25❗️#CHLKTP
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) December 12, 2022
Our top-viewed #NHLDraft eligibles this week:
— FCHockey (@FCHockey) December 12, 2022
1. Adam Fantilli 🇨🇦
2. Connor Bedard 🇨🇦
3. Dalibor Dvorsky 🇸🇰
4. Matvei Michkov 🇷🇺
5. Leo Carlsson 🇸🇪
6. Nate Danielson 🇨🇦
7. Cameron Allen 🇨🇦
8. Tanner Molendyk 🇨🇦
9. Andrew Cristall 🇨🇦
10. Riley Heidt 🇨🇦https://t.co/mK6rLhTO5r