Everett Silvertips G Carter Hart among stars at Top Prospects Game (with video

Published 12:43 pm Thursday, January 28, 2016

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Don Cherry is one of hockey’s most colorful Canadian characters, both figuratively and literally.

“We work out together in the summer and we’re good buddies,” said Steel, whose Pats defeated Hart’s backup two weeks ago at Xfinity Arena. “One thing they’ve been stressing since we got here is to have fun, but also make the most of it. You don’t want to sell yourself short. It’s a mixture of having fun, but when it comes down to playing your game and you gotta play hard.”

The octogenarian held court for a throng of reporters Wednesday following on-ice testing here at Pacific Coliseum and guaranteed a victory in tonight’s BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game a la “Broadway” Joe Namath.

“We’re going to beat Orr this time for sure,” said Cherry, paying no heed to the fact that NHL hall of famer Bobby Orr’s squad has beaten Team Cherry five straight times. “That sounds like Donald Trump, don’t it?”

He also told a colorful, perhaps not FCC-friendly anecdote about an encounter with Ivana Ronning, the wife of former Vancouver Canuck Cliff and mother of Vancouver Giant Ty, who is playing for Team Cherry tonight.

“I must have, on Hockey Night in Canada, said something bad about Cliff, I don’t remember,” Cherry said. “So I’m walking out of here and his wife is waiting and she’s just ripping me to shreds.

“I turned and said, ‘Listen, if he had as much (guts) as you, he’d be a good hockey player.’ It didn’t go over very good I’ll tell ya.”

He didn’t say guts, but I’ll let you fill in the blank.

There are without a doubt some nerves for these players, who are among the top 40 draft-eligible prospects in the entire Canadian Hockey League. Just being selected, however, demonstrates their inherent talent, according to NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr.

“This game never hurts anyone,” Marr said. “Just the fact they’re selected to play in the game is big. Some of them will make a play or be player of the game, be that difference-maker that will stand out and the teams will remember that. But no one tournament, no one event is going to change the big picture.”

Marr also said that today’s players are “better athletes” than when the event started.

“What jumps out at me is how well-prepared these young players are nowadays,” Marr said. “They’re focused, they know more about conditioning, they know more about nutrition, they have a clearer picture of what’s ahead of them.”

Marr said Wednesday about Everett goaltender Carter Hart’s focus as being one reason Hart is so highly regarded. Hart will get the start tonight and play, I presume, the first 30 minutes.

Everett Silvertips G Carter Hart talks prior to 2016 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game from Everett Herald on Vimeo.

On the opposition he’ll face former bantam teammate and good buddy Sam Steel. Also a Sherwood Park, Alberta, native, Steel plays the Regina Pats and is skating with Team Cherry tonight.

“We work out together in the summer and we’re good buddies,” said Steel, whose Pats defeated Hart’s backup Mario Petit two weeks ago at Xfinity Arena. “One thing they’ve been stressing since we got here is to have fun, but also make the most of it. You don’t want to sell yourself short. It’s a mixture of having fun, but when it comes down to playing your game you gotta play hard.”

If you’re into links, I would recommend basically the entire Sportsnet junior hockey page. The Vancouver Sun spoke at length with Ty Ronning, and Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com has five things to watch and a look at the six Top Prospects participants who played at World Juniors in Finland.