Top 40 2007-born players take part in 13th Annual GTHL event

The Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) hosted the top 40 players in the league at Scotiabank Pond for the 2023 GTHL Top Prospects Game on Tuesday. 

The event is organized to bring together the premier players from around the league for a “best-of-the-best” game against one another. Several GTHL clubs participated, with No. 2 Toronto Marlboros leading the way with 12 selections. The No. 9 Toronto Jr. Canadiens were a close second with nine players selected. The Don Mills Flyers and Vaughan Kings had six and five players selected, respectively. The Toronto Young Nationals and Mississauga Senators each had three players, with No. 20 Mississauga Rebels saw two players rostered.

Invitees were split into two teams, each equipped with star-studded coaching staffs behind the benches. Team Clark-James-Stewart was led by NHL legend Wendel Clark, NWHL veteran and international women’s ice hockey icon Angela James and former NHLer Anthony Stewart. NHL veteran Nik Antropov, current head coach of the U15 Toronto Young Nationals Rane Carnegie and former NHL player and head coach Ted Nolan were the personalities in charge for Team Antropov-Carnegie-Nolan. 

Players from the Marlboros, Young Nationals and Kings comprised Team Antropov-Carnegie-Nolan, with the remaining clubs filling out the roster for Team Clark-James-Stewart. The Marlboros made up a large portion of the defensive and forward units for their team. It was clear to see why, as the Marlboros regular-season team is currently equipped with a plus-190 goal differential. Jaden Nelson, one of the goaltenders for the Marlboros, was selected to man the crease along with Vaughan’s Owen Butler. 

William Moore, also hailing from the Marlboros, was the lone participant in this year’s game who had also played in last year’s showcase. 

Much like the Marlboros, the Jr. Canadiens slotted into most of the forward and defensive positions for their unit. Jack Ivankovic from the Senators and Abel Polan from Don Mills donned the pads. 

Click HERE to see full rosters for the event. 

Antropov-Carnegie-Nolan edges out the victory

Being that the top 2007-born prospects from around the GTHL were in action, the game between both squads was as exciting as it could have been. 

Nico Addy and Shamar Moses got Team Clark-James-Stewart out to a 2-0 lead they would take into the first intermission. In the second period, the chances for both sides continued. Luca Romano took advantage of a misplay by Nelson behind the net to add a third tally. However, the Marlies’ Lev Katzin and Joseph Cadorin would both chip in goals of their own. The Kings’ Ewan McChesney would even the score at 3-3 heading into the third period.

Chase Del Colombo and Moore took over proceedings in the final period. Colombo would add his second point with a goal and Moore would find the back of the net twice. Romano would strike for his second goal of the game as well, but it was not enough as Team Antropov-Carnegie-Nolan secured the 6-4 comeback win. 

Don Mills’ Moses (1G) and Young Nationals’ Del Colombo (1G, 1A) were both named players of the game.

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American Thanksgiving is circled on the calendar for both U.S., Canadian teams

It is regularly the single busiest weekend of youth hockey on the calendar each year. American Thanksgiving tends to treat hundreds of teams in North America to plenty of holiday hockey. From spending time with family to trying to snag the best Black Friday deals, games and tournaments schedules are strategically placed throughout the extended weekend. 

A multitude of cities throughout the United States celebrate Thanksgiving with dozens of tournaments. Here are some of the most notable coming up this weekend. 

International Silver Stick

It may take place in Canada, but several American teams have come to compete in the International Silver Sticks tournament. Beginning Nov. 24, teams from the 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 birth years will take part in this year’s tournament in Whitby, Ontario, CAN. Each age group will be split into groups of five teams to settle on seeding before the playoff rounds. 

For our purposes, we will focus on the 2007, 2009 and 2011 programs. 

Of the six groups in the ‘07 age group, four stand out for having multiple teams in the World Rankings. 

Group 1 will feature No. 13 Bishop Kearney Selects and No. 8-ranked among Canadian teams Halton Hurricanes. Group 2 will see two ranked clubs from Canada, No. 6 Toronto Jr. Canadiens and No. 7 Southern Tier Admirals and battle for supremacy. Group 3 standouts include No. 22 Mississauga Senators, No. 9-ranked Canadian London Jr. Knights, and No. 9 ranked in the U.S. Pittsburgh Penguins Elite. Rounding things out in Group 5 is No. 17 Don Mills Flyers and No. 5 in Canada York Simcoe Express.

Group 3 for the ‘09 table will have its fair share of close games, with the No. 7 U.S. ranked Mid-Fairfield Jr. Rangers set to face off against the likes of No. 11 Sun County Panthers and No. 16 Toronto Titans. 

For the 2011 age group, Group 4 will include matchups such as No. 9 Elgin-Middlesex Canucks and No. 22 Middlesex Islanders. Rounding things out is Group 5 are two of the top U.S. teams in No. 6 Penguins Elite and No. 17 Chicago Reapers. 

CCM Shootout

The 16U division of the CCM Shootout, presented by 200×85, will take place from Nov. 25-27 at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, USA. 

Eight teams will square off in a round-robin style format, earning two points for a win and one point for a tie. All teams will be in action during the first day, with Victory Honda and the South Hills Panthers kicking things off Friday morning. 

Other teams taking part are the Chicago Bulldogs, Gilmour Academy, Markham Islanders, PAL Jr. Islanders, Anaheim Ice Dogs and Biggby Coffee.

Some of these programs have already seen action against one another during the regular season, so that familiarity should lead to exciting and emotional tilts. 

Smashville Girls Showcase

The top Tier-I and Tier-II girls teams in North America will head to the Music City for the Smashville Girls Showcase this weekend. 

14U, 16U and 19U teams will each be divided into two groups per birth year. The hometown Nashville Jr. Predators will be in attendance for all birth years. The 14U team enters with a 6-7-0 record, the 16U team with a 7-4-2 record and the 19U team with a record of 4-6-2. 

As an added addition, the Smashville Women’s Hockey Collegiate Showcase will be running concurrently, bringing even more opportunities to watch and learn from some of the best female players in the world. 

The Collegiate Showcase will feature Northeastern University, Princeton University and Cornell University. 

The Nation’s Cup

Another 200×85 sponsored event, the 2022 CCM Nation’s Cup has the distinction of having the most unique format out of all the tournaments listed here. Not only that, but big bragging rights will be on the line to determine who will be crowned winner between the USA and Canada. 

126 teams from the 2008 through 2013 birth years will take part in a four-game round robin format, accumulating points for their respective country. This part of the proceedings also plays a crucial role in seeding for the next round. 

Once the new standings have been calculated, action will kick back up for a fifth and final game. The top Canadian team will square off against the top American team. Canadian second seed plays American second seed, and so on. Every time a team wins a game, they accrue points for either the U.S. or Canada. The country with the most points at the end of the tournament will be awarded the Nation’s Cup. 

Wishbone Classic

Rounding out festivities this weekend is a World Hockey Events exclusive. The Wishbone Classic will take place in Exeter, New Hampshire, USA with teams from the 2009 through 2013 birth years. 

This is one of the premier Tier-2 tournaments in New England on the calendar this season. As a result, some programs are bringing multiple teams to the event. 

The Seacoast Spartans (2009-2013), Valley Jr. Warriors (2010, 2011, 2013) and Dynamo HC (2012-2013) will all be participating in multiple birth years. 

Of course, these are just a few of the many events going on around this time. Be sure to check out a complete list of Thanksgiving weekend tournaments HERE. 

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