OHL top prospects look to impress in Brantford

Some of the OHL's best players are hoping to get the attention of NHL scouts at the top prospects game in Brantford. Colton Wiens has a preview.

Some of the top OHL players on the NHL’s scouting radar will compete at the Brantford Civic Centre in the inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game, Wednesday night.

There will be 42 players who will face off in front of fans and a collection of NHL scouts.

“It’s awesome. It’s a pretty cool, unique opportunity for me, but for the whole team to prove themselves and what they got. So it’s pretty cool to play in Brantford, close to home too,” said Cameron Reid, a Kitchener Rangers defenceman.

“It’s exciting. I mean, not making last prospect game, and the hearing about this and making the team. I’m just excited to see what I can do tonight,” said Luca Roman, a Kitchener Rangers forward.

Host Brantford has three Bulldogs on the Eastern Conference team: forwards Jake O’Brien and Joshua Avery, and goaltender David Egorov.

The Guelph Storm have two defenceman on the western conference team, Quinn Beauchesne and Daniil Skvortsov.

Kitchener has three Rangers on the western conference team, defenceman Cameron Reid, who’s been named an assistant captain for this, and forwards Luca Romano and Adrian Misaljevic.

“I’m very proud for them. They put in a lot of effort. I see that every day. It’s going to be great to play with them,” Reid said.

Although they’re competing with players they usually compete against, both Reid and Beauchesne said it’s a great opportunity to learn from the others.

“There’s a lot of guys that you’re not often happy to play against on the other team, so it’s great to have them on your side. All the new defense that I get to play with, and obviously all the skilled forwards upfront,” Beauchesne said.

“I’d say Michael Misa (Saginaw). I played with him once I think at the other Prospect Challenging a couple months ago. He’s an awesome player. I hate playing against him because he’s good and so smart. I’m excited to play with him,” Reid said.

The top major junior prospects used to play in a country wide game featuring the three leagues, but the Canadian Hockey League switched the format to have one team made up of the top players face off against the USA National Team Development Program. The OHL launched this game in response, to give more opportunity for players to be seen by scouts.

“We’re just here for the experience and try to have fun and show what we can do,” Misaljevic said.

It’s an even bigger experience for Misaljevic. Many of the top prospects are just 17-years-old, but 20-year-old Misaljevic is an over-ager this year. He leads the Rangers in scoring and ranks as a first round draft candidate for the NHL, so he’s thrilled to show more scouts what he can do.

“I feel great being here. It’s pretty crazy to be here as a 20-year-old. I never thought as a 20-year-old, but it’s definitely a great experience,” Misaljevic said.

Misaljevic also recently announced his commitment to Clarkson University in the NCAA for next season, the same school Rangers goalie Jackson Parsons committed to earlier.

The OHL said Brantford was an easy choice thanks to the hype around the Bulldogs now being in the city.

The game is sold out but is being streamed for free online. The puck drops at 7 p.m.