There may not be any Saskatoon Blades or Prince Albert Raiders taking part, but a Saskatoon product will be involved in the re-scheduled 2022 Kubota C-H-L/N-H-L Top Prospects Game, slated for March 23 in Kitchener, Ont.
Kevin Korchinski is a defenceman with the Seattle Thunderbirds, one of 15 W-H-L players named Tuesday to take part in the annual contest, designed to give N-H-L personnel a chance to see the top prospects ahead of the next N-H-L Draft. The game was to have been played earlier this month, but was postponed due to rising COVID-19 cases across Canada. Korchinski is 17 years old, stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 175 pounds. He has 38 points, including four goals, in 42 games with Seattle this season. The Thunderbirds chose him in the first round, 10th overall, in the 2019 W-H-L Prospects Draft. He is ranked 20th among North American skaters for this year’s N-H-L Draft, meaning he has a chance to be a first round selection. Following is the news release from the W-H-L…..
15 WHL PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN 2022 KUBOTA CHL / NHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022
Calgary, Alta. – 15 Western Hockey League players have been invited to participate in the 2022 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game, slated for March 23, 2022 in Kitchener, Ont.
The Canadian Hockey League announced the full list of players Tuesday morning.
WHL Players – 2022 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game
| Last Name | First Name | Team | Hometown | Height | Weight | Position |
| Beaupit | Mason | Spokane Chiefs | Surrey, B.C. | 6’5” | 184 | G |
| Brennan | Tyler | Prince George Cougars | Winnipeg, Man. | 6’3” | 190 | G |
| Dyck | Reid | Swift Current Broncos | Winkler, Man. | 6’4” | 193 | G |
| Korchinski | Kevin | Seattle Thunderbirds | Saskatoon, Sask. | 6’2” | 175 | D |
| Lindgren | Mats | Kamloops Blazers | North Vancouver, B.C. | 6’0” | 176 | D |
| Mateychuk | Denton | Moose Jaw Warriors | Dominion City, Man. | 5’11” | 186 | D |
| Pickering | Owen | Swift Current Broncos | St. Adolphe, Man. | 6’5” | 178 | D |
| Filmon | Josh | Swift Current Broncos | Winnipeg, Man. | 6’2” | 159 | F |
| Firkus | Jagger | Moose Jaw Warriors | Irma, Alta. | 5’10” | 150 | F |
| Geekie | Conor | Winnipeg ICE | Strathclair, Man. | 6’4” | 205 | F |
| Gustafson | Jordan | Seattle Thunderbirds | Ardrossan, Alta. | 5’11” | 177 | F |
| Minten | Fraser | Kamloops Blazers | Vancouver, B.C. | 6’1” | 185 | F |
| Savoie | Matthew | Winnipeg ICE | St. Albert, Alta. | 5’9” | 178 | F |
| Seminoff | Matthew | Kamloops Blazers | Coquitlam, B.C. | 5’11” | 183 | F |
| Schaefer | Reid | Seattle Thunderbirds | Spruce Grove, Alta. | 6’3” | 213 | F |
All 15 WHL participants were named on the recently-released NHL Central Scouting Mid-Season Rankings including a trio of WHL players ranked among the top 10 North American Skaters (Matthew Savoie, Conor Geekie, Denton Mateychuk) as well as the top-ranked North American Goaltender (Tyler Brennan).
The Kamloops Blazers, Seattle Thunderbirds and Swift Current Broncos boast three invitees, while the Moose Jaw Warriors and Winnipeg ICE will be represented by two players each. The Prince George Cougars and Spokane Chiefs will both send one player to the 2022 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game.
Slated for Wednesday, March 23 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, the 2022 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game showcases the top 40 CHL players eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft from across the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The 40 players will be divided into Teams Red and White with the rosters and coaching staffs announced in the coming weeks.
The Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game was last held in Hamilton, Ont. in January 2020 where Team White defeated Team Red 5-3. In all, 37 players who competed in the 2020 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game were later chosen in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Since its reintroduction as the CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game in 1996, the event has featured 15 players who were later selected first overall in the NHL Draft.
