Top coaches praise top hockey prospects

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Forty Canadian Hockey League players were invited to the sixth annual CHL Top Prospects game held Feb. 7 in Calgary.

The Top Prospects Game is a relatively new annual hockey event. The top 40 junior hockey players-eligible for the NHL entry draft in about four months-were invited to play in a nationally televised hockey game. It gives the players a chance to show how well they play against and alongside the best draft-eligible hockey talent in the CHL.

Two First Nations hockey players were among the prospects.

One was 6'2", 221 lb Colt King, who plays for the Guelph Storm team in the Ontario Hockey League. The 17-year-old is from Thunder Bay, Ont., and was ranked 27th among North American skaters by the Central Scouting Bureau.

The other First Nations player was the Western Hockey League's Jordin Tootoo, from Rankin Inlet, who plays for the Brandon Wheat Kings. The 5'9", 185 lb forward is ranked 96th among North American skaters.

This past summer, Tootoo played for the Canadian National under-18 team. He was named team captain and led Team Canada to the gold medal at the Four Nations Cup held in Slovakia.

On Feb. 6, the players were up early for a skills competition at the University of Calgary campus. King was on Team Purple, coached by Don Cherry, and Tootoo was on Team White, coached by Bobby Orr.

Tootoo's start in organized hockey ? unlike a vast majority of hockey players in the CHL today ? was not when he was a toddler.

"Playing in [Spruce Grove] Alberta in Bantam AAA was my first year of organized hockey, so I was about 14 years old," said Tootoo.

In the Feb. 7 game, Team Orr won 5 to 3 over Team Cherry.

King, who played on Team Cherry, said, "It was really exciting. It was a really fast-paced game. I don't know, it was really fun to be in, a great experience. It was pretty much what I expected. I expected a lot of good talent and a lot of speed, and a lot of physical play, and it was all there. It was a pretty good game, I thought. It could've went either way, but unfortunately for us, we couldn't get any bounces.

"All the scouts were here watching, and I just wanted to show them what I could do."

Tootoo was also pleased with his performance.

"It was a lot of fun, it was good to win. Like I said, it's good to meet new friends, and this is going to be a game I'll cherish for the rest of my life.

"It's a great bunch of guys, and you know, I had the best NHL player (Bobby Orr) coaching behind me."

Both Orr and Cherry had positive things to say about each of the players.

"I thought he was great," said Cherry of King.

"I think I played him to death. I had him on about four lines when we got injuries. He played a great game. I think he played about 40 minutes tonight, so I really think a lot of him. He's a nice big kid."

"I thought Colt played great tonight," said Orr, who watched him from the opposing bench.

"I've seen him play a lot up in juniors. I've watched him the last couple of years. Tonight was, I think, the best game I've ever seen Colt play. He was taking the body, handling the puck."

About Tootoo's performance, Orr said, "Is he a hard rock or what? He's a tough kid. . . . He's one that could play in the National Hockey League. He's got a heart as big as this rink, and he plays very, very well. I was really impressed with Jordin."

Cherry was also very impressed.

"Tootoo, I wish I'd have had him in the Boston Bruins. . . . he will be in the National Hockey League, there's no doubt in my mind."