The Canadian Hockey League is set to do something the Vancouver Canucks refused to do in 17 seasons - split up the Sedin brothers.
The eyes and ears of the junior hockey world were fixated on the Langley Events Centre on Monday (Dec. 12) as the 40 players invited to compete at the 2023 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game were revealed.
Also on-hand for the event was Vancouver Giants co-owner and multi-time Grammy Award winning artist Michael Buble, Giants majority owner Ron Toigo and the coaches for the Jan. 25, 2023 含羞草研究社� Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Canucks legend Stan Smyl and Vancouver Giants head coach Michael Dyck.
Henrik will be paired with Dyck as coaches for one team, while Daniel and Smyl will be behind the bench for the the other squad.
The 40 players invited are the top 2023 NHL Draft eligible players from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The players were identified and selected via a survey conducted with the NHL含羞草研究社檚 32 teams. The full list of players can be found at
The biggest draw for the game is North Vancouver product and Regina Pats superstar Connor Bedard. The 17-year-old phenom sold out the LEC when the Pats came to Langley last month and is scoring at a torrid pace in the WHL, with 28 points in 15 games. He will also suit up for Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships, which begin later this month in Halifax and Moncton.
Giants players Jaden Lipinski and Samuel Hoznek were also named to the game. Lipinski has 24 points in 30 games this season with the club, while Hoznek has 41 points in 30 games.
Other B.C. players receiving invites include: Portland Winterhawks defenceman Luca Cargoni (Burnaby), Tri-City American defenceman Lukas Dragicevic (Richmond), Saskatoon Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk (McBride), Winnipeg Ice forward Zach Benson (Chilliwack), Kelowna Rockets forward Andrew Cristall (Burnaby) and Seattle Thunderbirds forward Nico Myatovic (Prince George).
WE'VE GOT A PAIR OF GUYS IN THE KUBOTA TOP PROSPECTS GAME!
含羞草研究社� Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants)
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The team rosters and leadership groups for each team will be announced closer to the game.
Henrik said his main goal behind the bench is to let the players show their stuff.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not about us,含羞草研究社� he said, of when asked about a potential rivalry behind the bench with his twin brother. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 about their career so the focus will be on them and I hope the players have some rivalry between them.含羞草研究社�
Daniel said he含羞草研究社檚 looking forward to watching the young players talents first hand.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 going to be fun 含羞草研究社� there is so much skill and watching how these guys interact with each other and use totally new teammates will be fun,含羞草研究社� he said.
Daniel said he and Henrik are assisting in Abbotsford and the brothers are enjoying being involved with the team at the American Hockey League level.
含羞草研究社淲e try to watch every game and then go workout with some of the young guys before practice,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭hey ask us a lot of questions, especially about what to do on the power play. It含羞草研究社檚 been fun because they含羞草研究社檙e so welcoming and it含羞草研究社檚 a great group in Abbotsford.含羞草研究社�
Henrik explained that he and his brothers main goal is to help the players in Abbotsford reach Vancouver
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e there to help offer support for the players,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭hey all have the same goal, which is to take the next step. If we can give feedback on things that we see then we含羞草研究社檙e super happy doing that. And if we give them something that helps then that is all we ask for.含羞草研究社�
Both Sedins have noticed Abbotsford Canucks prospect and fellow countryman Linus Karlsson and his strong start in the AHL. Karlsson has collected 16 points in 22 games so far this season as a rookie.
含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 been doing awesome,含羞草研究社� Daniel said. 含羞草研究社淚 think for him it含羞草研究社檚 obviously a big learning curve coming over from Sweden. I didn含羞草研究社檛 think he would be as far ahead as he is right now. He含羞草研究社檚 going to be up and down, but he really wants to learn which is good.含羞草研究社�
Henrik said he has been impressed with what he含羞草研究社檚 seen from Karlsson.
含羞草研究社淲e know he含羞草研究社檚 a good player but it含羞草研究社檚 a lot of games up here,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not easy coming from Sweden because you often get more rest between games compared to here. There is also a lot more travel and back-to-back games so it will be an adjustment for him but he has played well.含羞草研究社�
The Giants hit the road and play the Royals in Victoria on Wednesday (Dec. 14) and then return home to host Portland on Friday (Dec. 16).
Select tickets remain for the Sedins CHL coaching debut at the LEC on Jan. 25, 2023. For more information, visit
