Bedard among those named to CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game roster

Connor Bedard, the projected No. 1 pick for the 2023 NHL Draft, will suit up at the 2023 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in January.

Bedard was among the 40 players named to the draft showcase Monday. Players were selected by NHL teams in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting. The CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will take place on January 25, 2023 at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, British Columbia.

Individual team rosters will be determined on a later date.

Bedard, No. 1 in FCHockey’s Preliminary Ranking for the 2023 draft, leads all Canadian Hockey League scorers with 64 points (27 goals, 37 assists) in 28 for Regina of the Western Hockey League.

“Bedard is five goals, 17 points and 40 shots ahead of anyone else at this point in the WHL season and he’s doing it without a whole lot of high pedigree help around him,” FCHockey scout Donesh Mazloum said. “His ability to generate opportunities for himself and teammates is second to none and by all metrics he has exceeded the sky high expectations on his shoulders entering the season.”

In all, 13 players projected within the top-32 of FCHockey’s preliminary ranking have been invited to the showcase, including forwards Bedard, Colby Barlow, Zach Benson, Andrew Cristall, Ethan Gauthier, Riley Heidt, Quentin Musty, Carson Rehkopf, Calum Ritchie, and Brayden Yager, and defensemen Cameron Allen, Tanner Molendyk, and Caden Price.

Here’s a look at the 40 players invited to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game:

FORWARDS

Colby Barlow, Owen Sound (OHL); Connor Bedard, Regina (WHL); Zach Benson, Winnipeg (WHL); Mathieu Cataford, Halifax (QMJHL); Andrew Cristall, Kelowna (WHL); Nate Danielson, Brandon (WHL); Ethan Gauthier, Sherbrooke (QMJHL); Riley Heidt, Prince George (WHL); Samuel Honzek, Vancouver (WHL); Nick Lardis, Peterborough (OHL); Kalan Lind, Red Deer (WHL); Jaden Lipinski, Vancouver (WHL); Ethan Miedema, Windsor (OHL); Quentin Musty, Sudbury (OHL); Nico Myatovic, Seattle (WHL); Tyler Peddle, Drummondville (QMJHL); Luca Pinelli, Ottawa (OHL); Coulson Pitre, Flint (OHL); Carson Rehkopf, Kitchener (OHL); Calum Ritchie, Oshawa (OHL); Gracyn Sawchyn, Seattle (WHL); Carey Terrance, Erie (OHL); Brayden Yager, Moose (WHL); Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George (WHL).

DEFENSEMEN

Beau Akey, Barrie (OHL); Cameron Allen, Guelph (OHL); Oliver Bonk, London (OHL), Hunter Brzustewicz, Kitchener (OHL); Luca Cagnoni, Portland (WHL); Lukas Dragicevic, Tri-City (WHL); Andrew Gibson, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL); Matteo Mann, Chicoutimi (QMJHL); Tanner Molendyk, Saskatoon (WHL); Etienne Morin, Moncton (QMJHL); Caden Price, Kelowna (WHL); Jordan Tourigny, Shawinigan (QMJHL).

GOALIES

Carson Bjarnason, Brandon (WHL); Scott Ratzlaff, Seattle (WHL); Charlie Robertson, North Bay (OHL); Jackson Unger, Moose Jaw (WHL).