NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
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Four different OHL players found the back of the net, powering Team White to a 4-2 victory in the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Wednesday at the Langley Events Centre.
Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers) earned Jim Gregory Player of the Game honours for the winning side, joining teammate Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals) with a goal and an assist. Team White captain Colby Barlow (Owen Sound Attack) helped his team claw back from an early deficit while Luca Pinelli (Ottawa 67's) also found the back of the net in the win.
"Obviously this is a game you have marked on your calendar. We had a real good group of guys and it was really enjoyable," said Rehkopf after the win. "You come here to win, but you obviously want to have a good game for yourself. It was an unbelievable experience and I really enjoyed it."
"It's awesome to play against all the great guys in this draft class that are your age, get to know them, and experience this kind of thing with them," said Barlow, who had a goal and three shots in the game. "We had a great speech from Stan Smyl in the second intermission. He came in and fired us right up so we knew what we had to do."
Mathieu Cataford (Halifax Mooseheads) opened the scoring for Team Red 3:21 into action before Barlow answered with a soft touch from the high slot, resulting in a 1-1 score after 20 minutes.
A scoreless second saw strong goaltending on both sides as Charlie Robertson (North Bay Battalion) entered the game for Team Red, going on to make 11 saves on the 13 shots he'd face.
Team White took over in the third, with Rehkopf opening up a 2-1 lead 3:53 into the final frame with help from Ritchie and Lukas Dragicevic (Tri-City Americans).
Pinelli provided Team White with insurance with 6:40 remaining, snapping a shot past Robertson in the Team Red crease before Ritchie would increase the lead into the open net just over three minutes later with an assist from Rehkof.
Nick Lardis (Hamilton Bulldogs) helped Team Red find some late life with a primary assist on a Zach Benson (Winnipeg Ice) marker, but it would be too little, too late as the final buzzer cemented a 4-2 final.
Team Red outshot Team White 47-31 in the game that was played before a crowd of 5,276 in Langley. The game was the 27th edition of the annual showcase that was aired across the country on TSN and in the United States on NHL Network. More than 150 personnel from NHL clubs were in attendance to see top draft-eligible talent from across the CHL.
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