Pair of draft eligibles added to 2024 CHL Top Prospects Game
Eriks Mateiko of the Saint John Sea Dogs and Nathan Villeneuve of the Sudbury Wolves have been added to the 2024 CHL Top Prospects Game.
Mateiko and Villeneuve will replace Cayden Lindstrom of the Medicine Hat Tigers and Ryder Ritchie of the Prince Albert Raiders, both of the Western Hockey League, who are both unable to participate for Team Red in the showcase because of injury.
The 2024 CHL Top Prospects Game will take placeat the Avenir Centre in Moncton on Wednesday.
Both Mateiko and Villeneuve were identified last week by FCHockey scouts as potential replacement candidates.
Mateiko has 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 38 games this season for Saint John in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He is closing in on QMJHL career-highs with 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in just 31 games after the 18-year-old amassed 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 62 games last year.
“I would like to see Mateiko leverage his dominant physique and puck protection in the offensive zone, as well as seizing scoring openings in the slot, should he get the chance to play against the CHL’s top draft eligibles,” Quebec-based FCHockey scout Joey Fortin Boulay said. “He’s been demonstrating it all season long in the QMJHL, but the Top Prospects Game is a different beast, and showing it at this event would catch some scouts eyes.”
Villeneuve has 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 38 games for Sudbury in the Ontario Hockey League, including 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in his last 21 games since Nov. 19. He is one off his goal total of 12 from a season ago, and has surpassed his 22 points as a rookie from 202-23.
“Villeneuve’s defining quality to me would be the level of intensity he brings to each game,” Ontario-based FCHockey regional scout Mike Kennedy said. “His high compete level and versatility is evident. His 200-foot game is rounding into form and he is starting to contribute more offensively.”
Here are the updated CHL Top Prospects Game rosters featuring the additions of Villeneuve and Mateiko:
TEAM RED
GOALTENDERS: Ryerson Leenders, Mississauga (OHL); Lukas Matecha, Tri-City (WHL).
DEFENSEMEN: Harrison Brunicke, Kamloops (WHL); Ben Danford, Oshawa (OHL); Sam Dickinson, London (OHL); Charlie Elick, Brandon (WHL); Zayne Parekh, Saginaw (OHL); Colton Roberts, Vancouver (WHL).
FORWARDS: Andrew Basha, Medicine Hat (WHL); Cole Beaudoin, Barrie (OHL); Raoul Boilard, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL); Tanner Howe, Regina (WHL); Adam Jecho, Edmonton (WHL); Ollie Josephson, Red Deer (WHL); Maxim Masse, Chicoutimi (QMJHL); Eriks Mateiko, Saint John (QMJHL; Julius Miettinen, Everett (WHL); Ethan Procyszyn, North Bay (OHL); Marek Vanacker, Brantford (OHL); Nathan Villeneuve, Sudbury (OHL).
TEAM WHITE
GOALTENDERS: Dawson Cowan, Spokane (WHL); Carter George, Owen Sound (OHL).
DEFENSEMEN: Lukas Fischer, Sarnia (OHL), Spencer Gill, Rimouski (QMJHL); Tomas Lavoie, Cape Breton (QMJHL); Luca Marrelli, Oshawa (OHL); Henry Mews, Ottawa (OHL); Carter Yakemchuk, Calgary (WHL).
FORWARDS: Berkly Catton, Spokane (WHL); Maximilian Curran, Tri-City (WHL); Gabriel Frasca, Kingston (OHL); Liam Greentree, Windsor (OHL); Tij Iginla, Kelowna (WHL); Jett Luchanko, Guelph (OHL); Luke Misa, Mississauga (OHL); Sam O’Reilly, London (OHL); Terik Parascak, Prince George (WHL); Beckett Sennecke, Oshawa (OHL); Kieron Walton, Sudbury (OHL); Carson Wetsch, Calgary (WHL).