Tier 1 CHL top prospects showcased in Hawkesbury

More than 1,200 hockey-hungry fans poured into the Robert Hartley Sports Complex on Saturday, January 15 for the Central Tier 1 Junior A Hockey League's prospect game.

Much like the league's all-star game that was played earlier in the week in Kanata, players from the Yzerman Division squared off against those from the Robinson Division - only this time the rosters were composed solely of the best young up-and-comers the league has to offer.

The Hawkesbury Hawks were well-represented in the game, sending seven players to showcase their talents. League executives selected goaltender Dylan Brind'Amour, defenseman Jesse Lussier and forwards Deric Boudreau, Alexandre Gendron, Stephen Hrehoriak, Francis Landers and Yanik Laliberté for the game.

Richard Morris and Martin Patenaude, members of the Hawks coaching staff, also took part in the festivities.

"It is quite an honour to be named to the prospect all-star team," said Lussier, who was playing in his first prospect game. "There are a lot of great young players in the league and being selected as one of them was a tremendous experience."

Lussier and his teammates may have lost the game by a score of 10-3, but the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of coaches and scouts from the NCAA, OHL and NHL was much more important than the final score.

"It's always hard playing with unfamiliar players," pointed out Hawks forward Hrehoriak. "But it was definitely a good place to showcase our skills, and hopefully get noticed."

The Hawkesbury Hawks organization wishes to express its thanks to all of the sponsors who helped make the 2011 prospect game a complete success.