The slick Saint John Sea Dogs Slovakian skater was featured on the front page of NHL.com earlier today after having his unreal skills put on display for the cameras.
The Sea Dogs winger was featured on TSN earlier this season, but NHL.com took it a step further by posting two highlight packages, five specific skills features, and his shootout moves from Tuesday’s skills competition. The NHL posted two videos on their Facebook page, a page that has over one-million fans.
24-hours later, it’s time to take a look back at the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Three-of-the-four Saint John Sea Dogs participating in the game scored as Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1 at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre.
Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and an assist, Zack Phillips had a goal and two assists, and Nathan Beaulieu had a goal as well. Tomas Jurco, the lone Sea Dog on Team Cherry, had some good scoring opportunities in the first period but could not get on the board.
There's a reason the Saint John Sea Dogs happen to be one of the most revered teams in the Canadian Hockey League this season.
There's a distinct possibility, in fact, that as many as four players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League franchise could be drafted in the opening round of 2011 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minn., on June 24. On Wednesday, three of those four skaters proved why when they scored goals to lead Team Orr to a 7-1 victory over Team Cherry during the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Air Canada Centre.
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"There might be some NHL teams that don't see a lot of us but we're working hard and, hopefully, tonight we showed the scouts that there a lot of premier players out there," Phillips said. "We don't get as much exposure as maybe the Ontario Hockey League, but when we do, we want to make the best of it."
That they did.
"It's a pretty big stretch to think four guys will go in the first round, but we made a pretty good case for ourselves (Wednesday)," Phillips said. "Hopefully, the scouts noticed."
Phillips, who gets the least amount of fanfare of the four prospects, assisted on the game winning goal as well as scoring one of his one.
Huberdeau scored a nice goal in the second period.
Facing some pressure to produce going into the game, Huberdeau delivered with a solid performance. Many media tweeters as well as the Rogers Sportsnet crew noted that Huberdeau stood out – in a good way – during the tilt.
Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu scored on a solid wrist shot in the third period.
"It'll be something special to see all four of us go (in the first round), but it's a long ways away," Beaulieu said to NHL.com. "It's a process and we're not going to look that far ahead into it right now."
“One guy who stood out for positive reasons: Beaulieu, a defenceman with Saint John,” writes Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun. “The son of London Knights assistant coach Jacques Beaulieu, the 18-year-old was smart defensively, using his stick to take away a scoring chance from Team Cherry, and had a big hit not long after the game started when he crunched the Barrie Colts’ Mark Scheifele. In the No. 9 spot on the mid-term rankings, Beaulieu scored on a wrist shot from the point in the third period.”
Huberdeau started the game on a line with Vladislav Namestnikov and Boone Jenner, Phillips on a line with Sven Bartschi and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Jurco played with Shane Prince and Sean Couturier. Beaulieu was paired with Montreal Juniors defenseman Xavier Ouellet.
Saint John Sea Dogs Jonathan Huberdeau, Zach Phillips, and Nathan Beaulieu all scored for Team Orr in a 7-1 blowout win over Tomas Jurco and Team Cherry at the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects Game at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre Wednesday night.
“The Sea Dogs may be barking up the right tree after that performance,” said HockeyCentral host Darren Millard after the game.
Huberdeau had a goal and an assist, Phillips a goal and two helpers, and Beaulieu also added a marker of his own to along with a slashing minor. Jurco, who won yesterday’s ‘Showdown Breakaway Contest’, was held off the score sheet but still stood-out on Team Cherry.
The Rogers Sportsnet crew praised the Saint John quartet all night long. Panelist Doug MacLean mentioned his talk with Sea Dogs head coach and fellow Prince Edward Islander Gerard Gallant about a dozen times.
It was an impressive showing, a display that surely helped all four players gain exposure in front of the boat load of general managers and scouts in attendance.
Phillips got on the board first with an assist as he passed the puck off to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The highly touted Red Deer Rebel forward then gave a terrific cross ice pass to Sven Bartschi to give Team Orr a 2-0 lead.
At 9:30 of the second period, Huberdeau picked up a rebound in front and walked around Christopher Gibson to give Team Orr a 3-0 advantage. Also during the middle frame, Rob Faulds spoke to former Sea Dogs head coach Jacques Beaulieu about his son, Nathan.
After Team Cherry got on the board later in the second, Beaulieu got Team Orr back on track at 2:58 of the third. The defenseman blasted a shot that blew past Victoriaville Tigres goaltender David Honzik to make it a 4-1 game. Huberdeau got an assist on the goal.
At 3:56, Phillips banged home a rebound in front to give Team Orr a four-goal advantage and all but icing the match. The Fredericton native also assisted on Dougie Hamilton’s late third period goal to make it a 7-1 final.
Also in the game, Myles Bell apparently wanted to drop the gloves with Huberdeau but couldn’t get the Sea Dogs’ leading scorer to dance.
SOLID STUFF It was a great broadcast by Rogers Sportsnet that included a very well organized pre-game show and some post-game recapping. It was similar to TSN’s world junior broadcasts.
We probably sound like a broken record by now, but it’s nice to see the Sea Dogs – ranked No. 1 in the CHL for a sixth straight week – actually get the national exposure they deserve.
Hopefully Sportsnet can continue the coverage in their CHL broadcasts. We’re not holding our breath, though.
UP NEXT The four will now rejoin the Sea Dogs in time for Friday’s 8:30 pm road match in Baie-Comeau.
GAME DAY WHAT: 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game WHO: Team Orr vs Team Cherry WHEN: Tonight, 8:00 pm WHERE: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ont.
PREVIEW The 40 best draft eligible players from the Canadian Hockey League will suit up tonight at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre for the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Game time is 8:00 pm AST and can be viewed on Rogers Sportsnet or RDS.
Four members of the Saint John Sea Dogs will take part in the event. Forward Tomas Jurco will play for Team Cherry while forwards Jonathan Huberdeau and Zack Phillips will join defenseman Nathan Beaulieu on Team Orr.
The four players all participated in the annual skills competition last night in front of a sparse ACC crowd. Phillips came second in the shooting accuracy challenge while Jurco took home the ‘Showdown Breakaway Challenge’ crown for his sick display of dangles and dekes.
All four of the Sea Dogs are projected, by the majority of scouting sites, to go within the first two rounds of the National Hockey League Entry Draft this summer. With lots of scouts in attendance, you now they, and the rest of the players in attendance, will be looking to make an impact. It isn’t your average all-star game.
One player in particular who will look to impress is Jonathan Huberdeau. His hot play of late and consistant play all season suddenly have him as an early first round pick. He’ll be wearing an alternate captain’s ‘A’ on his sweater this evening.
“Jonathan might be playing on the best line in junior hockey alongside Zack Phillips (ranked 12th by Central Scouting) and Tomas Jurco (ranked 24th),” said EJ McGuire, the director of NHL Central Scouting to the National Post today. “He’s a centreman who can dish to his left, dish to his right and shoot the puck in a fearsome way.”
Goaltenders — Chris Gibson (Chicoutimi Sagueneens), David Honzik (Victoriaville Tigres)
Defenseman — Miles Bell (Regina Pats), Scott Harrington (London Knights), Joe Morrow (Portland Winterhawks), Ryan Murphy (Kitchener Rangers), Duncan Siemens (Saskatoon Blades), Tyler Wotherspoon (Portland Winterhawks)
Forwards — Sean Couturier (Drummondville Voltigeurs), Philip Danault (Victoriaville Tigres), Nicklas Jensen (Oshawa Generals), Tomas Jurco (Saint John Sea Dogs), Shane Prince (Ottawa 67’s), Mark McNeill (Prince Albert Raiders), Matthew Puempel (Peterborough Petes), Rickard Rakell (Plymouth Whalers), Ty Rattie (Portland Winterhawks), Tobias Reider (Kitchener Rangers), Mark Scheifele (Barrie Colts), Ryan Strome (Niagara Ice Dogs)
Defenseman — Nathan Beaulieu (Saint John Sea Dogs), Dougie Hamilton (Niagara Ice Dogs), David Musil (Vancouver Giants), Xavier Ouellet (Montreal Juniors), Stuart Percy (Mississauga Majors), Reece Scarlett (Swift Current Broncos)
Forwards — Sven Bartschi (Portland Winterhawks), Daniel Catenacci (Soo Greyhounds), Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John Sea Dogs), Colin Jacobs (Seattle Thunderbirds), Boone Jenner (Oshawa Generals), Lucas Lessio (Oshawa Generals), Shane McColgan (Kelowna Rockets), Vladislav Namestnikov (London Knights), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer Rebels), Zack Phillips (Saint John Sea Dogs), Brandon Saad(Saginaw Spirit), Vincent Trocheck (Saginaw Spirit)
Head Coach – Dog Gilmour
FLASHBACK Past Sea Dogs to get an invite to the event include Martin Bartos (2006), David Stich (2007), Yann Sauve (2008), Robert Mayer (2008), Simon Despres (2009), and Stanislav Galiev (2010).
At the 2008 event in Edmonton, Sauve recorded an assist and seven penalty minutes in the match. The game will be remembered for the fight that took place between Sauve and eventual No. 1 overall pick Steven Stamkos.
Like Huberdeau tonight, Despres wore an ‘A’ on his sweater in the 2009 event.
Rogers Sportsnet’s coverage begins 30 minutes before puck-drop at 6:30 pm Eastern with a pre-game show featuring Hockeycentral analyst Doug MacLean and host Daren Millard in addition to the live broadcast on the Rogers Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific channels at 7:00 pm Eastern. Watch in-depth analysis on many future NHL stars that will showcase their talents before hundreds of NHL scouts in attendance. At 7:00 pm Eastern the broadcast team of play-by-play man Peter Loubardias, analyst Sam Cosentino, and host Rob Faulds will provide all the action live from Air Canada Centre.
VENUE Arena: Air Canada Centre Tenant: Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)/Toronto Raptors (NBA)/Toronto Rock (NLL)/ Waffle Throwers Capacity: 18,819 Arena Guide
MEDIA Television: Rogers Sportsnet, RDS, NHL Network US (tape delay) Radio:http://www.mediaontap.com/sports/hockey/CHL/index.php. Post-Game Coverage: Just about everywhere Post-Game Highlights: CHL.ca, Sportsnet Connected, TSN SportsCentre
Facing some pressure to come through with an unreal shootout move, Tomas Jurco delivered.
The Saint John Sea Dogs’ Slovakian star won the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Skills Competition’s ‘Showdown Breakaway Challenge’ with a spin-o-ramo lacrosse like goal that left the thousands few fans in attendance stunned.
"He successfully executed the lacrosse-style scoop up the puck, spinerrama goal. But it was one of his moves that did not result in a goal that had many saying 'What was that?' Jurco scooped the puck onto the blade of his stick, parallel to the ice. Then he flipped the puck into the air, flipped his stick and caught the puck on the shaft. Jurco could have stopped his attempt right there and it would have been extremely impressive. Unfortunately he did not score."
Even some of the moves he didn’t score on are quite impressive to say the least.
"I don’t know if I would be gutsy enough to pull them off the way he does,” said Jurco’s teammate Zach Phillips, as Sunaya Supurji tweeted.
“Not everything I do in practice I can do in a game. Unless I’m 100 percent sure (I can score), I won’t try it in a game,” said Jurco of his spectacular skills. “I’ve been doing some of these moves, like that spin-o-rama, for years so I was sure I could do it. If I’m not going to score, it doesn’t matter what I do."
So will we eventually see his lacrosse spin move in game action? If so, getcha popcorn ready.
Nathan Beaulieu, Jonathan Huberdeau, Zach Phillips and the rest of Team Orr defeated Tomas Jurco and Team Cherry to claim the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Skills Competition Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre. Team Orr won the event 12-11.
Despite being on the losing end, Jurco scored an unreal goal (according to the few people in attendance) in the breakaway challenge. He won the contest, earning 39-of-a-possible-40 points for yet another daring move. What a shock.
Jurco's amazing lacrosse-style scoop with his stick from between the circles was followed by some twisting and twirling of the puck before his wicked backhand found the back of the cage, earning an event-high 39 points for Team Cherry. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels had posted the highest score (37) in the opening round of the event prior to Jurco's crowd-pleaser. Nugent-Hopkins skated down the middle of the ice while maintaining control of the puck within his skates. At the last second, he kicked the puck to his forehand and deposited his shot to the long side to the delight of those in attendance.
When Jurco was asked earlier in the day what he had up his sleeve for the event, he shrugged without any hint of detail.
"I don't know what I'm going to use," he told NHL.com. "I have a few moves and I'll probably decide right before I go."
Tomas Jurco of the Saint John Sea Dogs won the breakaway event by scooping up the puck and whipping it into the net with a lacrosse-style shot while spinning around in the slot, earning a score of 39 out of 40 and a goal for Team Cherry.
We can only imagine what his coach, Don Cherry, thought of his moves.
Sault Ste. Marie forward Daniel Catenacci won the fastest skater competition with a time of 14.017 seconds to secure a goal for Team Orr. Sea Dogs defenseman Nathan Beaulieu finished the competition with a solid time of 14.695.
Forward Zach Phillips did very well in the accuracy shooting contest, going four-for-six. He finished second behind Matthew Puempel of the Peterborough Petes who went four-for-five. The highly touted Sean Couturier of the Drummondville Voltigeurs went a woeful zero-for-eight.
Regina Pats defenceman Myles Bell won the hardest shot contest for Team Cherry with a blast of 98.4 miles an hour.
The final event of the night was a 3-on-3 game, with two 15-minute periods of running time. Team Orr notched a 9-6 victory to clinch the win.
The Top Prospects Game will be played Wednesday night at 8:00 pm on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS.
The 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Skills Competition is tonight at 8:00 pm at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. As far as we know, there will be no television or webcast coverage of the event.
Four Saint John Sea Dogs will show off their skills tonight in front of fans, scouts, and media. Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu will participate in the fastest skater competition, Zach Phillips in the shooting accuracy event, and Jonathan Huberdeau and Tomas Jurco will take part in the breakaway/shootout contest.
There will also be a three-on-three game, giving players lots of ice to work with to display their skill.
Of course, the ‘Show-Down Breakaway Contest’ is already highly anticipated with YouTube star Tomas Jurco taking part in the event. Sunaya Supurji had a great article on Jurco over at Yahoo! today, where it was said he hasn’t been practicing anything out-of-the-ordinary for tonight’s event.
“I’ll try my usual moves,” Jurco said Monday upon his arrival in Toronto. “Hopefully, if the goalie hasn’t seen them (on YouTube), it will work.”
He also shed some light on how he decides on what move to use when it counts.
“Not everything I do in practice I can do in a game. Unless I’m 100 percent sure (I can score), I won’t try it in a game,” said Jurco of his spectacular skills. “I’ve been doing some of these moves, like that spin-o-rama, for years so I was sure I could do it. If I’m not going to score, it doesn’t matter what I do."
Via HockeySense.ca, here is what the Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leaguers will be doing at tonight’s skills competition (full list HERE):
Fastest Skater Nathan Beaulieu, Saint John Sea Dogs
Shooting Accuracy Zack Phillips, Saint John Sea Dogs Sean Couturier, Drummondville Voltigeurs Phillip Danault, Victoriaville Tigres
Show-Down Breakaway Contest Jonathan Huberdeau, Saint John Sea Dogs Xavier Ouellet, Montreal Juniors Tomas Jurco, Saint John Sea Dogs
Goaltenders Christopher Gibson, Chicoutimi Sagueneens David Honzik, Victoriaville Tigres
Tomorrow at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, the 2011 edition of the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will hold its annual skills competition. The game will be played on Wednesday.
Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman Nathan Beaulieu and forwards Zach Phillips, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Tomas Jurco will all participate in the two-day event that features the Canadian Hockey League’s best draft-eligible players showcasing their abilities in front of a plethora of scouts.
Beaulieu, playing with Team Orr, will take part in the fastest skater competition. Phillips, also with Team Orr, will play in the shooting accuracy competition. Joining Phillips in the competition, playing for Team Cherry, will be Drummondville Voltigeurs’ forward Sean Couturier.
Surely the most anticipated event of the evening will be the “Showdown Breakaway Contest.”
“The Showdown Breakaway Contest made its debut last season in Windsor and will again feature six players per team taking two attempts on goal before a panel of four judges that will score each attempt based on creativity, originality, degree of difficulty, execution, showmanship, and the ability to score,” states a CHL release.
Taking part in the event will be both Huberdeau and Jurco who will play for separate sides – Huberdeau with Team Orr and Jurco with Team Cherry. Anyone with an internet connection probably knows that the two have some slick moves by now. Huberdeau produces a highlight reel worthy play almost every week while Jurco is well known for his shootout move in Cape Breton last season.
After the events, a three-on-three game will take place featuring two 15-minute periods.
Here is a rundown of the point system:
The best individual score in each event receives a goal for their team, with another goal awarded for the best team average from each event for a total of eight available goals. The 3-on-3 game consists of two 15-minute periods with running time with all goals scored counting towards the overall competition score.
The 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Skills Competition participants can be found below:
Skill 1 – Fastest Skater
Team Orr: Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs Shane McColgan, Kelowna Rockets Nathan Beaulieu, Saint John Sea Dogs Daniel Catenacci, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Team Cherry: Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers Mark McNeill, Prince Albert Raiders Tobias Rieder, Kitchener Rangers Rickard Rakell, Plymouth Whalers
Skill 2 – Hardest Shot
Team Orr: David Musil, Vancouver Giants Stuart Percy, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors Vincent Trocheck, Saginaw Spirit Reece Scarlett, Swift Current Broncos
Team Cherry: Myles Bell, Regina Pats Scott Harrington, London Knights Duncan Siemens, Saskatoon Blades Tyler Wotherspoon, Portland Winterhawks
Skill 3 – Shooting Accuracy
Team Orr: Lucas Lessio, Oshawa Generals Zack Phillips, Saint John Sea Dogs Boone Jenner, Oshawa Generals Colin Jacobs, Seattle Thunderbirds
Team Cherry: Sean Couturier, Drummondville Voltigeurs Matthew Puempel, Peterborough Petes Shane Prince, Ottawa 67’s Phillip Danault, Victoriaville Tigres
Skill 4 – Show-Down Breakaway Contest
Team Orr: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Red Deer Rebels Brandon Saad, Saginaw Spirit Sven Bartschi, Portland Winterhawks Vladislav Namestnikov, London Knights Jonathan Huberdeau, Saint John Sea Dogs Xavier Ouellet, Montreal Juniors
Team Cherry: Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks Tomas Jurco, Saint John Sea Dogs Nicklas Jensen, Oshawa Generals Ryan Strome, Niagara IceDogs Mark Scheifele, Barrie Colts Joe Morrow, Portland Winterhawks
Goaltenders:
Team Orr: Jordan Binnington, Owen Sound Attack Liam Liston, Brandon Wheat Kings
Team Cherry: Christopher Gibson, Chicoutimi Sagueneens David Honzik, Victoriaville Tigres
As far as we know – and despite it being the year 2011 - the skills competition will not televised or webcasted.
Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu and forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Zach Phillips, and Tomas Jurco will all join some of the best draft eligible prospects in the CHL for the two-day event.
It’s not surprising to see Saint John’s ‘Big Four’ named to the roster for the event. The quartet is predicted to go in the first two rounds of this June’s National Hockey League Entry Draft by most publications.
According to a release, “the rosters were selected by the 30 NHL General Managers with NHL Central Scouting and include 18 players from the Ontario Hockey League, 13 players from the Western Hockey League, and nine players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.“
Huberdeau currently leads the Sea Dogs in scoring with 54 points in 35 games. His linemate, Zach Phillips, is second in team scoring with 51 points and leads the Dogs in goals with 25 on the year.
Huberdeau and Phillips will join Beaulieu on Team White, who will be coached by Doug Gilmour. Beaulieu has had an up-and-down year but has still has produced well in his draft year. He has six goals and 16 assists in 35 contests to go along with a +25 rating.
Tomas Jurco will play for Team Red which will be coached by Hockey Night in Canada’s Don Cherry. Jurco has struggled at times with consistency, but still had a solid first half. He recorded 17 goals and 15 assists in 33 games prior to leaving to join Team Slovakia for the world juniors.
Other QMJHL players to make the cut were Drummondville’s Sean Couturier, Montreal’s Xavier Ouellet, Victoriaville’s Phillip Danault and David Honzik, and Chicoutimi’s Christopher Gibson.
Also from the release, “27 of the CHL’s 60 teams are represented in this game including four players from the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks along with four players from the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs. Both the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers and Oshawa Generals are each represented by three players.”
The annual skills competition will be held on January 18 while the game will be played the following evening. The game will be broadcast live by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS.
The roster for Cherry’s Team Red:
Goaltenders — Chris Gibson (Chicoutimi Sagueneens), David Honzik (Victoriaville Tigres)
Defenseman — Miles Bell (Regina Pats), Scott Harrington (London Knights), Joe Morrow (Portland Winterhawks), Ryan Murphy (Kitchener Rangers), Duncan Siemens (Saskatoon Blades), Tyler Wotherspoon (Portland Winterhawks)
Forwards — Sean Couturier (Drummondville Voltigeurs), Philip Devos (Victoriaville Tigres), Nicklas Jensen (Oshawa Generals), Tomas Jurco (Saint John Sea Dogs), Gabriel Landeskog (Kitchener Rangers), Mark McNeill (Prince Albert Raiders, Matthew Puempel (Peterborough Petes), Rickard Rakell (Plymouth Whalers), Ty Rattie (Portland Winterhawks), Tobias Reider (Kitchener Rangers), Mark Scheifele (Barrie Colts), Ryan Strome (Niagara Ice Dogs)
The rosters for the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game will be announced today via a conference call.
The annual game features the top-40 draft eligible prospects that play in the Canadian Hockey League. The two-day event begins on January 18 at the Air Canada Centre with a skills competition with the game being played the following evening.
A few Saint John Sea Dogs should be on the list. Strong candidates include Nathan Beaulieu, Jonathan Huberdeau, Zach Phillips, and Tomas Jurco. Wildcards include Ryan Tesink, Scott Oke, and Guillaume Cloutier.
Saint John’s ‘big four’ prospects of Beaulieu, Huberdeau, Phillips, and Jurco are all projected by most draft rankings to go within the first two rounds of the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft in June.
