Steve Stamkos plays on the Sarnia Sting who are currently sitting in the last and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.  Steve Stamkos’ first year with the Sting was last year, when he took them from the worst team in the OHL to a playoff team last year, despite a weak supporting cast.  This year isn’t too different with Stamkos carrying most of the load for the Sarnia Sting with his 46 goals and 87 points this season.

Steve Stamkos will more than likely be drafted #1 overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, and will likely be competing for a roster spot his first year as a pro.  Keep your eyes on Steve Stamkos because he has the potential to be a great player for many years to come.

The CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game was featured in Edmonton this year and featured 40 of the top draft prospects in the 2008 Entry Level Draft.  Team White beat Team Red 8-4, and besides Stamkos’ 2 points, Josh Bailey scored 2 goals and Zach Boychuk had a goal and 2 assists.

The CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game has had some great talent in year’s past, such as Joe Thornton, Rick Nash, and Chris Pronger have played in the The CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game.  This game is a great way to gauge some of the best young talent in the world as the NHL’s Entry Draft gets closer.

Doug Risebrough, President and GM of the Minnesota Wild said, “I think it’s good for the scouts,” and “They like to see the match up against the top players and I think the kids know that and get prepared. For a general manager it doesn’t get any better than this because you can see one game and see a lot of players.”

It was the 30 NHL teams who chose the players who played in the CHL-NHL Prospects Game.

Last year the CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game featured 2 current 1st round picks and current NHL players, Patrick Kane and Sam Gagne.

This years CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game features an even deeper talent pool. Steve Stamkos is ranked first by the NHL Central Scouting Service, Doughty is the 3rd ranked Zach Bogosian, 5th ranked Alex Pieterangelo, 6th ranked Tyler Myers, 7th ranked Luke Schenn, 8th ranked Colby Robak will all be skating in the 2008 CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game.

Matt Halischuk scored the game winner in overtime to lead Team Canada to the victory. Brad Marchand had a goal in and assist in the game for Team Canada. Marchand and Giroux each scored 1st period goals to put Team Canada up 2-0. Carlsson scored in the third period for Team Sweden before Tomas Larsson tied the game with only 38 seconds left and the goalie off for an extra attacker.

Halischuk took over from there, scoring a little over 3 minutes into overtime to seal Team Canada’s fourth straight gold metal victory at the World Junior Championships.

Team Canada goaltender Steve Mason won the World Junior Championship award for best goaltender. Canadian defenceman Drew Doughty was named to the tournament all-star team along with Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman and forward Patrik Berglund, Russian forward Viktor Tikhonov and American forward James vanRiemsdyk.

The World Junior Championships will be hosted in Ottawa, Canada next year as they defend their title for the 4th straight year