James Livingston to play in top prospects game

NEWS RELEASES

SOO GREYHOUNDS CANADIAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

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Hound Named To Home Hardware Top Prospect Roster

In an announcement made earlier this afternoon, Canadian Hockey League Vice-President Ron Robison announced Soo Greyhounds forward James Livingston as one of the 40 players selected for the upcoming Home Hardware Top Prospects Game.

Livingston, who is in his 2nd season as a member of the Soo Greyhounds, sits 5th in team scoring with 13 goals and 15 assists in 40 games played. The 17-year old Newmarket, Ontario native has started the year 2008 strong with points in three consecutive games in January and has a +3 rating.

The two days of festivities will feature 40 of the CHL’s top players eligible for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and will take place at the Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Team Red and Team White will take part in a CHL Super Skills competition on Tuesday, January 22nd before hitting the ice in the actual game one day later (January 23rd) at 7:00 p.m.

Fans are reminded they can catch every minute of the action live on Rogers Sportsnet Ontario, channel 18 locally.

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CHL Announces Roster for the Home Hardware Top Prospects Game

Edmonton, AB – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the roster of 40 players that will compete in the 2008 Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta on January 22 and 23.

The roster includes four players from Team Canada’s entry at the 2008 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. Steven Stamkos from the Sarnia Sting (pictured), Zach Boychuk from the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Drew Doughty from the Guelph Storm and Luke Schenn of the Kelowna Rockets all helped Canada win the gold medal at the event.

The rosters also includes Kyle Beach of the Everett Silvertips, Mikhail Stefanovich of the Quebec Remparts and Stamkos, who were named as the top prospects in their respective leagues in the preliminary rankings for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft that were released in November.

“We are very proud to announce the outstanding lineup of players that will compete in this year’s edition of the Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game,” said CHL President David Branch. “This event has become one of the most anticipated on the hockey calendar every January and we are very thankful for our partnership with the National Hockey League and Home Hardware that help make this game possible. The Canadian Hockey League is very excited to be back in Edmonton with the return of the Oil Kings and we look forward to hosting this special event there.”

The 2008 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is the annual showcase of the top draft eligible players from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and features the next wave of future NHL stars from across the Canadian Hockey League. The two-day event will feature the annual Top Prospects game, as well as a thrilling skills competition where players can show-off their individual abilities for fans and scouts alike.

The rosters are selected by the 30 NHL general managers as well as the NHL’s Central Scouting department.

"The Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is a major event where scouts can see all the premier draft-eligible players in Major Junior hockey compete head-to-head,” said NHL Central Scouting Director, E.J. McGuire. “This year again promises an opportunity for players to showcase their talent to all NHL scouts with the ultimate goal of making the jump into the NHL, as Sam Gagner of the Edmonton Oilers did last year at the Top Prospects Game.” Home Hardware, a title sponsor since 2000, continues as the title partner of the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game this year.

"We are looking forward to the 2008 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects game being hosted in the City of Champions," said Bruce Shuh, Director of Marketing for Home Hardware Stores Limited. "Our Independent Dealers support local hockey teams and events in more than 1,000 communities across Canada and as a National Dealer Network, we are proud to be involved with major sporting events such as the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The game has a storied tradition of helping hundreds of young men achieve their goal of playing in the NHL and we are proud to be associated with such a positive experience."

The long list of NHL stars that have participated in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game for the “Bobby Orr/Don Cherry” Trophy include Edmonton Oilers’ rookie Sam Gagner as well as Patrick Kane, Dion Phaneuf, Roberto Luongo, Joe Thornton and Marc-Andre Fleury. Other notable Oilers include Marc Antoine Pouliot, and J.F Jacques, who also played in the game.

2008 Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game - Rosters

Team Red

Forwards A.J. Jenks, Plymouth Whalers Philippe Cornet, Rimouski Oceanic James Wright, Vancouver Giants Geordie Wudrick, Swift Current Broncos Steven Stamkos, Sarnia Sting Patrice Cornier, Rimouski Oceanic Kelsey Tessier, Quebec Remparts Phil McRae, London Knights Mikkel Boedker, Kitchener Rangers Mikhail Stefanovich, Quebec Remparts Jordan Eberle, Regina Pats James Livingston, S.S. Marie Greyhounds

Defencemen Drew Doughty, Guelph Storm Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara IceDogs Colten Teubert, Regina Pats Michael Del Zotto, Oshawa Generals Luca Sbisa, Lethbridge Hurricanes Jyri Niemi, Saskatoon Blades

Goaltenders Chet Pickard, Tri City Americans Kevin Poulin, Victoriaville Tigres

Team White

Forwards Kyle Beach, Everett Silvertips Josh Bailey, Windsor Spitfires Chris Doyle, PEI Rocket Joel Champagne, Chicoutimi Sagueneens Cody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion Jamie Arniel, Sarnia Sting Maxime Sauve, Val-d’Or Foreurs Mitch Wahl, Spokane Chiefs Zack Boychuk, Lethbridge Hurricanes Tyler Ennis, Medicine Hat Tigers Jared Staal, Sudbury Wolves Greg Nemisz, Windsor Spitfires

Defencemen Colby Robak, Brandon Wheat Kings Tyler Cuma, Ottawa 67’s Yann Sauve, Saint John Sea Dogs Zach Bogosian, Peterborough Petes Tyler Myers, Kelowna Rockets Luke Schenn, Kelowna Rockets

Goaltenders Peter Delmas, Lewiston MAINEiacs Thomas McCollum, Guelph Storm

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CHL Announces Coaches for the Home Hardware Top Prospects Game

Edmonton, AB – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the coaches that will be behind the benches for the 2008 Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta on January 22 and 23.

Former Edmonton Oilers’ greats Grant Fuhr and Glenn Anderson will coach the home team (Team White) along with Don Nachbaur, head coach of the Tri City Americans while former Calgary Flames’ greats Lanny McDonald and Mike Vernon will coach the visiting team (Team Red) along with Calgary Hitmen coach/GM Kelly Kisio.

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