WHL Prospects Game - Winther & Troock

I would like to congratulate the following players: Mike Winther and Brendan Troock for being named to the Top Prospects Game. I coached both athletes at the U-16 Western Challenge Cup and Mike with Team Pacific. Bright future for these two boys! Congrats boys!

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Western Hockey League Kelowna Rockets Hockey Club and Home Hardware Stores Limited today announced that three players have been added to rosters for the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game to be played February 1 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC.

Mike Winther of the Prince Albert Raiders, and Tim Bozon of the Kamloops Blazers have been added to the Team Cherry roster while Branden Troock of the Seattle Thunderbirds will suit up for Team Orr.  The three players replace Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting, Jarrod Maidens of the Owen Sound Attack, and Matia Marcantuoni of the Kitchener Rangers who are all unable to participate due to injury.

Winther, an 18-year-old from Trochu, AB, is playing in his second WHL season with the Raiders.  The 5’11’’, 170lb forward was ranked 26^th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in their recent midterm rankings.  In 45 games so far this season he has 39 points including a team-high 22 goals.

Bozon, a 17-year-old rookie from Lugano, Switzerland, is ranked 39^th by NHL Central Scouting.  At 6’1’’, 178lbs, the Blazers’ forward is tied for first among WHL rookies in scoring with 22 goals and 22 assists for 44 points in 44 games.

Troock, a 17-year-old Edmonton, AB, native is playing in his first full WHL season with the Thunderbirds.  The big 6’3’’, 203lb power forward has 14 points in 34 games so far this season and was ranked 90^th by NHL Central Scouting in their midterm rankings for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. 

The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is supported by title sponsor Home Hardware for the 13^th straight year with associate sponsors Bank of Montreal, Subway, and CCM. 

The game will be broadcast live to a national audience on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Quebec beginning at 7:00 pm Pacific and available online through Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will mark the 17^th annual showcase of the CHL’s top-40 NHL draft eligible players.  The two-day event also features a skills competition and three-on-three challenge taking place on Tuesday January 31, 2012.  Ticket packages are still available for the two-day event and can be purchased at http://www.selectyourtickets.com/prospects.php or by calling 250-762-5050.

For more information including rosters and historical stats please visit www.homehardwaretopprospectsgame.com

About Home Hardware Stores Limited
100% Canadian owned and operated, Home Hardware Stores Limited has a presence in every Canadian province and territory and is the country’s largest independent, Dealer-owned hardware, lumber, building materials and furniture cooperative. Founded on January 1, 1964 by 122 independent hardware Dealers, the cooperative now includes more than 1,080 stores, under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners, with annual collective retail sales of more than $5 billion. Home Hardware’s independent Dealer-Owners, recognized by the North American Retail Hardware Association as Canada’s best-trained Dealer group, have access to 100,000 quality brand name and private label products, a world-class distribution system and draw upon the power of Home Hardware’s network to provide their local communities with top quality products and services at competitive prices.