Team Red takes Top Prospects Game

Daniel St. Louis/CHL

MONCTON - Raoul Boilard of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar scored twice to lift Team Red to a 3-1 win over Team White at the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Avenir Centre on Wednesday.

Boilard scored the game-winner just 5:52 into the third period, getting the puck across the line on a scramble in the crease. He secured the win with an empty net goal late in the frame.

Ben Danford of the Oshawa Generals also scored for Team Red.

Ryerson Leenders of the Mississauga Steelheads allowed a goal on 20 shots in the first half of the game. Lukas Matecha of the Tri-City Americans stopped all 19 shots he faced in the second half of the match.

Liam Greentree of the Windsor Spitfires scored the lone goal for Team White.

Carter George of the Owen Sound Attack allowed a goal on 12 shots in the first half of the game. Dawson Cowan of the Spokane Chiefs allowed a goal on 17 shots in the second half.

It was a fairly evenly played game throughout the night with shots ending 39-30 in favour of Team White. It wasn't the most offensively thrilling game — but there were a few posts hit.

Saint John Sea Dogs forward Eriks Mateiko, a member of Team Red, was held pointless but was on the ice for the empty net goal. He recorded three shots in the match while skating on the fourth line with Andrew Basha of the Medicine Hat Tigers and Nathan Villeneuve of the Sudbury Wolves.

Team Red, led by Moncton Wildcats head coach Dan Lacroix, also featured former Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant as an honourary coach.

Team White, led by Charlottetown Islanders head coach Jim Hulton, featured former Sea Dogs coach Mike Kelly as an honourary coach.

Mike Kelly and Gerard Gallant behind the benches as honourary coaches. pic.twitter.com/dnBohVgIhb

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) January 24, 2024

A few other notes...

• Mateiko became the first Sea Dogs player to appear in a Top Prospects Game since Jeremie Poirier in 2020. He's the first forward since Maxim Cajkovic in 2019.
• Attendance was 7,562 — and it looked either sold out or close to it.
• Kubota gave out old school thunder sticks, a rare sight these days.
• Always love how players wear their club jerseys for warmup.

Most colourful warmup of the year. pic.twitter.com/WFTHWjToL8

— Jamie Tozer (@station_nation) January 24, 2024