Red Deer Rebels forward Kalan Lind will suit up among the best players in the Canadian Hockey League next month.
Lind, 17, was named to the 2023 Kubota CHL/ NHL Top Prospects Game, which will take place on Jan. 25 at the Langley Events Centre in B.C.
The Swift Current, Sask. native will also celebrate his 18th birthday that same day.
Lind has been a real spark plug for the Rebels this year, with eight goals and 17 assists in 26 games.
Red Deer’s Nate Danielson, who plays for the Brandon Wheat Kings, was also named the roster for the game. Danielson, the Wheat Kings captain, has 37 points in 31 games and is projected to be first round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The top prospects game was last held in Kitchener in March 2022 where Team White defeated Team Red 3-1. Jagger Firkus (Team White/Moose Jaw) and Shane Wright (Team Red/Kingston) were named Players of the Game and were both later selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 NHL Draft.
In all, 38 players who played in the 2022 game, were chosen in the 2022 NHL Draft headlined by Wright at fourth overall.
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 including Alexis Lafreniere (2020), Nico Hischier (2017), Connor McDavid (2015), Aaron Ekblad (2014), Nathan MacKinnon (2013), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), Taylor Hall (2010), John Tavares (2009), Steven Stamkos (2008), Patrick Kane (2007), Marc-Andre Fleury (2003), Rick Nash (2002), Vincent Lecavalier (1998), Joe Thornton (1997), and Chris Phillips (1996).