BY SCOTT HADDOW
Sudbury Wolves forward Nick Foligno can
hardly wait for the 2006 CHL Home Hardware Top Prospects game.
After all, it's his type of game.
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Sudbury Wolves sophomore Nick
Foligno is expecting an intense, physical contest in
tonight's CHL top prospects game in Ottawa. |
Foligno, 18, is one of 13 OHL players named
to compete in the game, which unlike most other "best of"
hockey games features a torrid pace, plenty of hitting and high
intensity.
The game takes place tonight in Ottawa at
Scotiabank Place (formerly Corel Centre). The game will be
televised on Rogers Sportsnet (cable channel 34) starting at 7
pm.
The talented sophomore forward is thrilled to
get a chance to go against the best in his own age group.
"I am excited," said Foligno. "This is a
great opportunity for me obviously. There's going to be a lot
of great talent there, so i just have to bring and do
my best. Hopefully, I will give the NHL
scouts something to look at."
In a one game, high stakes event, the
pressure to perform can be overwhelming, but the crafty
playmaker said he won't let his chance to shine in the national
spotlight be ruined by a case of nerves.
"I don't really feel any pressure," said
Foligno. "If anything, I have put pressure on myself. I know
what I can do, so I just have to go out and do it. I have to
work really hard and outshine other players."
The Wolves leading scorer expects a tough
contest.
"It's going to be an exciting game with all
those talented players involved," said Foligno. "I want to
prove I belong with them. I also want to prove I am getting
better as a player and that, one day, I could play in the
NHL."
The CHL Prospects games are usually full of
intense action and not just another regular all-star game where
stars showcase their elite skills in an environment with
minimal physical contact.
Last year, Owen Sound's Bobby Ryan was
knocked out of the game in the first period when he was
pulverized by a hard hit from Alex Bourret, who played for
Lewiston from the QMJHL.
"The game is no joke," said Foligno. "It's
going to be intense. Guys are fighting for their spots in the
NHL draft, so I expect them all to be going hard all game.
There will be a lot of intensity and heated moments I think,
but that's part of hockey and that's what makes hockey so
exciting."
Foligno has 14 goals and 43 points in 39
games, along with 101 penalty minutes and has a solid
plus/minus rating of +11.
He hopes to gain plenty of hockey knowledge
being surrounded by so many young stars.
"Playing in this game is also a great chance
for me to learn from other top players," said Foligno. "These
guys are skilled and are there for a good reason, so it can
only benefit me. Hopefully I can get something out of it that I
can bring back to the Wolves to help us out."
The son of Wolves' bench boss and GM Mike,
Nick Foligno has been pleased with his development over the
course of his OHL career. Last year, the six-foot, 190-pound
forward recorded 10 goals and 38 points in 65 games, along with
111 penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of +5.
In the playoffs, he took his game to a higher
level and was arguably the Wolves' best player in an opening
round playoff victory over Brampton.
"I feel I have taken a big step forward this
year," said Foligno. "I really feel I have improved as a player
in all aspects of the game. I want it to
continue."
Foligno is currently ranked the 28th best
prospect for this summer's NHL draft by International Scouting
Services and rated the 17th best North American prospect by the
Central Scouting Bureau.
Other OHL stars competing in tonight's
contest include Belleville's Matt Beleskey, Kingston's Corey
Emmerton, Barrie's Bryan Little, Peterborough's Jordan Staal,
Windsor's Mike Weber, Owen Sound's Theo Peckham, Plymouth's
John Armstrong, Saginaw's Ryan Daniels, Ottawa's Jamie McGinn,
and Chris Stewart and Ben Shutron, both from Kingston.
