Thursday notes

Few things today....

First, the CHL has named the rosters of players who will play in this year's Top Prospects game in January. 13 WHLers have been named to participate; the list can be found here.

I notice that press release says the game takes place January 18-19. Apparently they have expanded the game from its usual 60 minutes and it now runs so long that, like a cricket match, it takes place over two days.

Next note; despite the WHL having a trade freeze in effect, the Oil Kings and Broncos completed a trade yesterday which saw the Oil Kings send the rights to 17 year old forward Graham Black to the Broncos for a conditional 2011 8th round bantam pick. The trade freeze is only for WHL roster players and since Black is currently playing in the Saskatchewan midget league, it is allowed to take place.

Black is actually leading the SMHL in scoring by a big margin, so perhaps the Broncos will attempt to add him to their roster after the Christmas break.

Speaking of trades, in the WHL a first round pick gets you a forward like Carter Ashton, an NHL first round pick. In the QMJHL, a first round pick gets you an undrafted forward with 40 points in three seasons. I don't pretend to be an expert on the QMJHL but to me that looks like a bad, bad trade.

Lastly, the Saskatchewan Hockey Association has finally named its team for the Canada Winter Games in February. B.C., Alberta, and Manitoba named their rosters (also chock-full of WHL prospects) previously. As I did with the other provinces, here's Saskatchewan's roster, with WHL affiliation:


G Brett Lewchuk - Spokane - 2010 5th rd
G Daniel Wapple - Moose Jaw - 2010 4th rd
D Kayle Doetzel - Red Deer - 2010 1st rd
D Tanner Faith - Kootenay - 2010 2nd rd
D Colby Harmsworth - Calgary - 2010 3rd rd
D Tyler King-Cunningham - Spokane - 2010 1st rd
D Branden Scheidl - Portland - 2010 4th rd
D Colby Williams - Regina - 2010 4th rd
F Austin Calladine - Calgary - 2010 2nd rd
F Jarrett Fontaine - Prince George - 2010 3rd rd
F Alex Forsberg - Prince George - 2010 1st rd
F Carter Hansen - Moose Jaw - 2010 1st rd
F Craig Leverton - Lethbridge - 2010 2nd rd
F Tim McGauley - Saskatoon - 2010 1st rd
F Zac MacKay - Swift Current - 2010 4th rd
F Ty McLean - Regina - 2010 5th rd
F Cory Millette - Red Deer - 2010 2nd rd
F Tyson Predinchuk - Spokane - 2010 6th rd
F Justin Spagrud - Tri City - 2010 3rd rd
F Jordan Tkatch - Prince George - 2010 2nd rd