Wright scores, but Team White gets last laugh in Top Prospects Game

By Mark Pare

Shane Wright, pegged by experts as the projected first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft, shined early on.

But it would be the attack of his opponents as a collective that proved to be the difference in front of a pandemic record crowd at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Tuesday night.

In front of a crowd of 5,969 fans — including NHL general managers and scouts — Wright missed a breakaway opportunity in the first minute, but would capitalize on a rush a few moments later to open the scoring.

That's all Team Red would muster on offense, as Team White scored three unanswered to take the annual showcase 3-1.

But the real winner looked to be Kitchener, with a crowd buzzing like old times.

“I think during the National Anthem, the last couple Ranger games and again tonight, you kind of looked around and you're thinking 'wow,'” said Rangers coach Mike McKenzie, who served on the bench for Team Red.

“We missed this for the last year and a half, two years. You take it for granted when you have it for so long, and then when it's gone..it's nice to see it back the way it used to be.”

There was lots of energy in the crowd, from the introductions to the final horn.

McKenzie said there wasn't much of a specific strategy in mind, it was mostly just let the prospects loose and let them show what they can do.

“Just roll out the lines, try to put a couple little small things in place so guys are on the same page,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it's just about them showcasing themselves, working hard, putting their best foot forward and trying to do the best they can.”

Guelph Storm coach George Burnett was a coach for Team White.

He said you don't really know what you're dealing with when it comes to these makeshift teams, so they encouraged them to play with pressure and support each other. He liked the pace his team played with through 40 minutes, when White held Red to nine shots.

“We managed the puck really well,” he said. “(We) spent a lot of time in the offensive zone, despite some penalties, and (we had) a really good skating team.”

“There was a bit of physicality, not a lot, but a little bit. I just thought our guys competed hard, and when we made mistakes, we worked extremely hard to make up for them and created some turnovers that ended up going into the net.”

Jake Karabella of the Storm had the game-winner for Team White, one of two second period goals for the team.

He also added a helper on the game tying goal from Jagger Firkus (Moose Jaw, WHL) in the first.

“It was a great experience, meeting all the guys the last few days,” he said.

“Felt good out there today, obviously felt great getting the win. Overall, it was amazing.”

The Guelph native also gets bragging rights going back into regular season play, defeating three of his Storm teammates that suited up on the other side.

“I lined up against (Matthew Poitras) a couple times in the face off, was giving him a couple whacks. But I think for the most part, we were just there focused on the game, no friends during the game at all. I'll talk to them after and before, but during the game, it was all business.”

The annual showcase was cancelled last year because of the pandemic.

Wright took Player of the Game honours for Team Red. Firkus was named Player of the Game for Team White, after also registering a goal and an assist.

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