CHL Top Prospects Game | Shane Wright featured

(Kitchener) The CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is back in 2022 after a hiatus forced by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, all eyes will be on Shane Wright.

Along with Wright, 39 other NHL Draft prospects who play in the Canadian Hockey League will be able to showcase their skills on Wednesday as the prospect game returns.

Over the past two years, Wright has faced the same uncertainties as every other junior hockey player. Suspended seasons, reminders, delays, cancellations. This ball in the belly of not knowing what hangs at the end of our noses. To have hundreds of questions and very few answers.

While all players had to endure those same conditions, Wright had to do so with the intense added pressure of wearing the label of the world’s top prospect.

“I adapted, commented the young center of 18 years. It’s on my shoulders… no one else is going through this. »

After not being able to play all season last year when the OHL suspended its activities, Wright has found some normalcy this year.

Following a slow start in 2021-22, he currently has 25 goals and 77 points in 52 games with the Kingston Frontenacs. Reaffirming his status as the number one prospect according to NHL Central Scouting. He sits at the top of the list of the best players available in North America.

“He’s still number one,” office manager Dan Marr said. Currently, he is at the top of his game. He is in excellent spirits. »

Wright, who was selected by Junior Team Canada in December before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19, and the other 39 prospects will therefore have a golden opportunity to impress NHL scouts and general managers .

“This event is very important”, believes Matthew Savoie, ranked 3^and rank of skaters in North America. “I’m just grateful and filled with gratitude to be part of it,” added the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice forward.

For Marr, the young players of the 2022 cohort had to condense 18 months of development into six months altogether.

“You have to give these young people a lot of credit for their resilience and dedication,” he said. They had to face a lot of adversity and find ways to skate, to train. They had to find ways to do the necessary work. They didn’t have a fully planned and organized path for them. »

“In a way, they’re going to benefit from that along the way,” he added.

Winnipeg Ice center Conor Geekie ranked just behind teammate Savoie at 4^and rank, says he relied on a family maxim during the pandemic.

“You can’t really control COVID-19,” he said. I know a lot of people have tried, but generally speaking you can only be yourself and go through whatever is put in front of you. »

“Obviously, I don’t want to be stopped from playing. Yes, it’s annoying, stressful. But we have no choice but to go with the flow. »

Tyler Brennan of the WHL’s Prince George Cougars took a similar approach, but concedes the mental toll has been heavy at times.

“It was really hard not knowing what was going to happen,” admitted the top-ranked goaltender in North America. You had to keep an open mind. »

While the Western Hockey League was dormant, the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League managed to maintain part of their games in 2020-21, but we were still a long way from a normal season for the development of these growing players.

All three leagues are back this season although some games have had to be postponed due to virus-related outbreaks.

“I try to see the good side of things, that we could train more,” testified Gatineau Olympiques defender Tristan Luneau. My physical strength is something that I need to improve. I was really able to work on that last year. »

“Then this year, with or without fans, we had ups and downs, but we play games and that’s all we want. We try to take advantage of it as much as possible, ”continued the Quebecer.

This positive prospect of turning the hockey break into efforts in the gym is a common theme among action-starved players on the ice.

“A lot of people have taken the COVID break for granted,” said Geekie, who is already six-foot-three and 193 pounds when he won’t turn 18 until May.

“Being a big guy growing up, it was always difficult to keep up with my growth and gain muscle mass,” he explained. I had the chance to train to get bigger and stronger. »

Once again, not being able to play as many matches as expected, these young hopefuls had fewer opportunities to demonstrate their talent. Wednesday’s match therefore represents an opportunity not to be missed both for these young players and for those who would like to hire them.