2016 BMO Top Prospects Game Recap: Pierre-Luc Dubois Shines

The annual BMO Top Prospects Game returned for its 21st appearance Thursday as Team Orr and Team Cherry battled it out and showcased the top NHL draft prospects from each Canadian junior league. Each player on the ice wanting to show scouts everything they have so their draft stock is headed in the right direction as we approach the 2016 NHL Draft in June.

Note that Vancouver Giants forward Tyler Benson was injured prior to the game and was replaced by teammate Ty Ronning.

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Team Orr, captained by London Knight Matthew Tkachuk, versus Team Cherry, captained by Sarnia Sting defenseman Jakob Chychrun, has been set up to be a heavily competitive bout. Each team has a group of great forwards and defensemen. Team Orr seems to have the edge in net with Carter Hart and Dylan Wells minding the nets. Perhaps Team Orr will carry their shutout streak to three straight games?

Nope. Ty Ronning chipped a puck over Carter Hart’s shoulder to put Team Cherry up 1-0 over Team Orr. The play was set up from a nice shot-pass off of Hart by Jordan Kyrou.

So with Team Orr’s streak over with, both teams can focus on making plays.

Michael McLeod started the game well by creating some chances for Team Cherry but was turned away by Hart. He made it clear early his speed is not to be underestimated by bursting by some defenders early on.

Team Orr came back with some nice chances by Logan Stanley and Simon Stransky. Evan Fitzpatrick saved Samuel Girard’s butt after he was easily worked off the puck and had a turnover leading to a scoring chance.

Fitzpatrick would stop the rest of the shots from Team Orr for the rest of the period. Orr took control of the game even after a penalty by Logan Stanley, the line of Will Bitten, Matthew Tkachuk, and Boris Katchouk was relentless on the forecheck.

Team Orr finished the period with twelve shots and Team Cherry finished the period with nine. The goal, again, from Ty Ronning.

The second period brought a more balanced rush between the two teams. Neutral zone turnovers were much more frequent and suppressed zone attacks became more popular.

Team Orr started to carry the momentum by holding the puck in the zone for a good amount of time. Simon Stransky made some moves. Pierre-Luc Dubois had a great scoring chance after he made some slick dekes around Sean Day, only to be foiled by Fitzpatrick.

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Orr also received great defensive plays from Mikhail Sergachev, who is most noted for his shot, and Libor Hajek. Both broke up odd man rushes that Team Cherry looked to capitalize on.

The goalie change came halfway and Zach Sawchenko came in for Team Cherry, Dylan Wells took over for Team Orr. Fitzpatrick stopped all 17 shots and Carter Hart stopped 15 of 16.

Alex DeBrincat had been quiet all game, then got a glorious chance to put Cherry up 2-0. The puck bounced right to him at the top of the slot and he shot it right into Wells’ pads.

Team Orr finally tied up the game after a great toe drag move from Pascal Laberge of the Victoriaville Tigres. Started with some good passing from Libor Hajek and PLD and ended with fantastic hands by Laberge.

That would end the 2nd period. Shots would flip-flop this period as Cherry had 12 shots for a total of 21 and Orr had 8 shots for a total of 20.

At the end of two periods, both starting goalies made statements with their appearances. The best skaters on the ice included, but not in the order of Pierre-Luc Dubois, Simon Stranksy, Olli Juolevi, Mikhail Sergachev, Libor Hajek, Markus Niemelainen, Jordan Kyrou,  Michael McLeod, Will Bitten, Matthew Tkachuk, and Vitalii Abramov.

The second period goal, again, coming from Pascal Laberge. And it was a beauty.

So with the third period underway, Team Cherry got an early powerplay opportunity after a Mikhail Sergachev cross-check. Kyrou, Brown and Max Jones worked well together on that powerplay but no scoring came on the man advantage.

Cherry gained more momentum after the powerplay and got a couple of nice rushes, including one from Sean Day. Team Orr had their fair share of chances, but Zach Sawchenko was solid in net early.

The third period was quickly becoming a very quiet one. That is until Sean Day took a high sticking penalty. Pierre-Luc Dubois powered his way to the net was unable to convert, put Pascal Laberge picked up the loose puck and fired a great shot by Sawchenko. Team Orr leads 2-1.

Pierre-Luc Dubois created the penalty and the scoring chance. Very powerful moves created both chances.

So halfway into the third period Team Orr takes the lead in the game, and has the chance to extend their winning streak in the BMO Top Prospects Game.

BUT WAIT!

Logan Brown ties the game after a terrific Jordan Kyrou pass. Brown’s shot was pretty incredible as well. So now it’s tie game.

NOT FOR LONG!

Who else but PLD comes up with a turnover by picking off the pass and powering his way to the net, working with Laberge, and retaking the lead.

Both goals came within seconds of each other and both were brilliant plays by each goal scorer. So instead of both teams trying to score one more goal, Team Cherry find themselves down one with five minutes left in the game.The line sent out to try to tie the game is Logan Brown in between Max Jones and Jordan Kyoru.

The line sent out to try to tie the game is Logan Brown in between Max Jones and Jordan Kyrou. All three had great periods and had come up with a goal in the period already. Team Cherry, at this point, has most of the shots and they are starting to build some momentum going into the final minutes of the game.

Team Cherry pulled the goalie, but could not win the face-off to start a heroic comeback. After some attempts, Brown won the draw and the clock started ticking down. However, they would be unsuccessful.

Recapping the busy third period. Pascal Laberge gave Orr a 2-1 lead, Logan Brown tied the game back up at 2-2, then PLD regained the lead for Orr and the eventual game winner 3-2.

Next: 2016 NHL Draft: Adam Mescherin Fighting to be 1st Rounder

Team Orr now has six wins in a row after this 3-2 win. Pierre-Luc Dubois was the best forward on the ice. Olli Juolevi was the best defenseman on the ice. Dylan Wells was the best goalie on the ice. Pascal Laberge won Most Valuable Player. He had two goals and an assist in the win.