Elite Prospects Hockey

The Elite Prospects Showcase is about bringing together the top prospects at each age division across North America to showcase their skills with and against each other. "When we first started the Showcase 5 years ago, I remember Jonathan Toews (Team Western Canada) and Peter Mueller (Team USA) were supposed to be the top 2 prospects at the 88 birthyer level for the WHL Draft and in North America" said Showcase Director Don Harkins. The Elite Prospects Showcase featured Toews and Mueller head to head and the comparisons and arguments began who is better. Both were taken in the WHL Draft but Toews decided to go the NCAA route at North Dakota and Mueller after the US NTDP opted for Everett of the WHL, some 5 years later the 2 of them have played against each other in World Junior Championships and now as rookies in the NHL (Toews - Chicago & Mueller - Phoenix). Nugent-Hopkins played in the Elite Prospects Showcase 93 Division in 2006 where his Western Canadian squad fell to Team Ontario in the Championship. "I remember getting an email from Ryan's mom Debbie after that Showcase and she thanked me for a great event and how great the competition was" said Harkins. "He's highly skilled" recalls Harkins. Nugent-Hopkins was clearly one of the top prospects at that age divison back then and it will be interesting to see him compete this year against another top US Prospect in Colin Jacobs (Dallas, TX.) as both are projected to be top picks in the WHL Draft this spring, both are also top prospects for NCAA Division I Programs. NCAA, WHL, US NTDP and USHL Scouts will definitely have the USA vs Western Canada game on their calendars at the Showcase to see them face off against each other. "That is the neat thing about our event" added Harkins. "All of these top kids throughout the US and Canada know of each other and their reputations as Elite Level Players, but they rarely get to play with and against each other due to geography and cost, our event affords these players that opportunity" added Harkins, I am sure that from April 17-20, 2008 the comparisons will start between Nugent-Hopkins and Jacobs as it did with Toews and Mueller 5 years ago. "I don't care if a kid is going to play in the WHL, OHL or NCAA Programs, this event affords them a great opportunity to compete with and against the best players in their respective age group in North America and exposure to numerous scouts" stated Western Canada's Jon Calvano. The numbers don't lie, in last year's 2007 NHL Draft 11 out of the 30 1st Round Picks all played in the Elite Prospects Showcase (Pat Kane (#1 Overall - Chicago Blackhawks), Kyle Turris (#3 Overall - Phoenix Coyotes), Karl Alzner (#5 Overall - Washington Capitals) to name a few, there were also 7 players selected in the 2nd Round as well. By the way Toews and Mueller were top 10 1st Round Picks in the 2006 Draft. Who's next, Nugent-Hopkins? Jacobs?