Oshawa General’s Ritchie stars as Team White doubles Bedard’s Reds in Top Prospects game
Published January 26, 2023 at 11:03 am
OHL stars Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals) and Carson Rehkopft (Kitchener Rangers) stole the spotlight from consensus number one choice Connor Bedard, with each forward contributing a goal and an assist as Team White doubled up Bedard’s Team Red 4-2 in the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL top prospects game in Langley, B.C.
Ritchie’s empty-net goal late in the third sealed the victory and Bedard appeared to get in the middle of the ensuing White celebration, sparking a lengthy scrum.
Tempers also flared just 29 seconds into the third in a surprisingly chippy game when White’s Kalan Lind (Red Deer) and Red’s Alex Pharand (Sudbury) dropped the gloves. The pair exchanged blows before being separated by officials and sent to the box with fighting majors.
Colby Barlow (Owen Sound) and Luca Pinelli (Ottawa) also scored for White in the annual showcase of 40 of the Canadian Hockey League’s top draft-eligible talents.
The game was played at Langley Events Centre, which is the home of the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants.
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Red’s goals came from Mathieu Cataford and Zach Benson (with 36 seconds left on the clock) as Bedard was left off the scoresheet. The 17-year-old star centre of the Regina Pats leads the WHL in points and is widely expected to go first overall at the NHL Entry Draft this summer.
White’s Scott Ratzlaff (Seattle) made 24 saves before being replaced by Jackson Unger (Moose Jaw) midway through the second period. Unger stopped 21 shots in relief.
Carson Bjarnson (Brandon) started for Red before coming off halfway through the game. Charlie Robertson (North Bay) took over in net and stopped 11-of-13 shots.
Red pulled Robertson with 3:52 left on the clock in favour of an extra attacker and moments later Ritchie guided Rehkopf’s shot into the yawning net to make it 4-1.
Earlier in the game Red’s Riley Heidt (Prince George) went for a highlight reel play, taking the puck around the back of the net and lifting it up on his stick in an attempt at a ‘Michigan.’ Ratzlaf kept tight to his post, however, and the ensuing shot bounced off the goalie’s shoulder.
A strange moment before puck drop when Team White’s was first to hit the ice and as they sprinted out of the tunnel,
OHL stars Calum Ritchie (Oshawa Generals) and Carson Rehkopft (Kitchener Rangers) stole the spotlight from consensus number one choice Connor Bedard, with each forward contributing a goal and an assist as Team White doubled up Bedard’s Team Red 4-2 in the 2023 Kubota CHL/NHL top prospects game in Langley, B.C.
Ritchie’s empty-net goal late in the third sealed the victory and Bedard appeared to get in the middle of the ensuing White celebration, sparking a lengthy scrum.
Tempers also flared just 29 seconds into the third in a surprisingly chippy game when White’s Kalan Lind (Red Deer) and Red’s Alex Pharand (Sudbury) dropped the gloves. The pair exchanged blows before being separated by officials and sent to the box with fighting majors.
Colby Barlow (Owen Sound) and Luca Pinelli (Ottawa) also scored for White in the annual showcase of 40 of the Canadian Hockey League’s top draft-eligible talents.
The game was played at Langley Events Centre, which is the home of the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants.
Red’s goals came from Mathieu Cataford and Zach Benson (with 36 seconds left on the clock) as Bedard was left off the scoresheet. The 17-year-old star centre of the Regina Pats leads the WHL in points and is widely expected to go first overall at the NHL Entry Draft this summer.
White’s Scott Ratzlaff (Seattle) made 24 saves before being replaced by Jackson Unger (Moose Jaw) midway through the second period. Unger stopped 21 shots in relief.
Carson Bjarnson (Brandon) started for Red before coming off halfway through the game. Charlie Robertson (North Bay) took over in net and stopped 11-of-13 shots.
Red pulled Robertson with 3:52 left on the clock in favour of an extra attacker and moments later Ritchie guided Rehkopf’s shot into the yawning net to make it 4-1.
Earlier in the game Red’s Riley Heidt (Prince George) went for a highlight reel ‘Michigan’ play but Ratzlaf kept tight to his post and made the save.
A strange moment before puck happened when Dylan MacKinnon (Halifax) and Ethan Gauthier (Sherbrooke) of Team White, who were first to hit the ice, tripped over a dark carpet stationed over a dark logo at centre ice as they sprinted out of the tunnel and went flying face first down the rink. Teammate Ritchie followed suit moments later.
All three quickly bounced up uninjured and went on to help their squad to victory
With files from Canadian Press
A scrum followed Calum Ritchie’s third period goal, with Conor Bedard in the middle of it