Calgary, AB - The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club would like to congratulate second-year forward Jake Virtanen and rookie defenceman Ben Thomas on being named to Team Orr for the 2014 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, held Wednesday, January 15 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. With the addition of Virtanen and Thomas, the Hitmen have now been represented in this event by 26 players since 1996, a CHL-high.
“This is a great opportunity for Jake and Ben,” said Hitmen head coach Mike Williamson. “Both players are playing big roles on our hockey team and we’re excited for them to be recognized. Being selected to play in the Top Prospects Game and having it right here in Calgary in front of our fans will be a great experience.”
Virtanen, a native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, was selected by Calgary first overall in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft. He has appeared in 30 games this season, recording 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points over that span. The 6-1, 210-pound forward was recently given an ‘A’ level rating by NHL Central Scouting in their November Players to Watch list.
Thomas, a native of Calgary, Alberta, has recorded two goals and 13 assists for 15 points over 31 games played this season. Calgary selected the 6-2, 193-pound defenceman in the third round, 45th overall, in the 2011 draft. NHL Central Scouting rated Thomas as a ‘C’ level prospect in their Players to Watch list for November.
The CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be broadcast live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports beginning at 7:00 p.m. MT, and is also available on the NHL Network in the United States and on Sportsnet 960 The FAN.
Tickets are still available and can be purchased for as little as $12.00 for a child ticket and $17.00 for an adult ticket (plus applicable fees) at all Ticketmaster locations and the Scotiabank Saddledome box office. Order online at www.ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 1-855-985-5000. Group ticket pricing is also available by calling 403-777-4646.
Here are both rosters:
Team Orr:
Goaltenders:
Julio Billia (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Mason McDonald (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Defencemen:
Aaron Ekblad (Barrie Colts)
Aaron Haydon (Niagara IceDogs)
Julius Honka (Swift Current Broncos)
Brycen Martin (Swift Current Broncos)
Alex Peters (Plymouth Whalers)
Ben Thomas (Calgary Hitmen)
Forwards:
Sam Bennett (Kingston Frontenacs)
Clark Bishop (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Blake Clarke (North Bay Battalion)
Eric Cornel (Peterborough Petes)
Leon Draisaitl (Prince Albert Raiders)
Nikolaj Ehlers (Halifax Mooseheads)
Josh Ho-Sang (Windsor Spitfires)
Brendan Lemieux (Barrie Colts)
Jared McCann (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Brendan Perlini (Niagara IceDogs)
Jake Virtanen (Calgary Hitmen)
Spencer Watson (Kingston Frontenacs)
Staff:
Lanny McDonald – Head Coach
Mike Vernon – Assistant Coach
Joel Otto – Assistant Coach
Will McMillan – Athletic Therapist
Jason Monnery – Equipment Manager
Team Cherry:
Goaltenders:
Ty Edmonds (Prince George Cougars)
Alex Nedeljkovic (Plymouth Whalers)
Defencemen:
Anthony DeAngelo (Sarnia Sting)
Haydn Fleury (Red Deer Rebels)
Aaron Irving (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Roland McKeown (Kingston Frontenacs)
Nelson Nogier (Saskatoon Blades)
Alexis Vanier (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Forwards:
Daniel Audette (Sherbrooke Phoenix)
Ivan Barbashev (Moncton Wildcats)
Conner Bleackley (Red Deer Rebels)
Michael Dal Colle (Oshawa Generals)
Chase De Leo (Portland Winterhawks)
Robby Fabbri (Guelph Storm)
Nikolay Goldobin (Sarnia Sting)
Ryan MacInnis (Kitchener Rangers)
Matt Mistele (Plymouth Whalers)
Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice)
Nick Ritchie (Peterborough Petes)
Nikita Scherbak (Saskatoon Blades)
Staff:
Jim Peplinski – Head Coach
Paul Reinhart – Assistant Coach
Tim Hunter – Assistant Coach
Brian Cheeseman – Athletic Therapist
Rogan Dean – Equipment Manager
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