In 1996, the National Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League first joined forces to showcase the best draft-eligible players in major junior hockey in Canada. The result was the Top Prospects Game, an event that allowed NHL scouts and executives to evaluate the top junior talent for the Entry Draft and an opportunity for hockey fans to enjoy a game featuring the stars of the future.

Vincent Lecavalier, now of the Tampa Bay Lightning, skated for Team Orr in the 1998 Top Prospects Game.

The Top Prospects Game has become a launching pad for a number of junior players with virtually every participant being selected in the NHL Entry Draft, including first overall selections Chris Phillips (1996), Joe Thornton (1997) and Vincent Lecavalier (1998).

Other notable participants include New Jersey forward and Calder Trophy-winner Scott Gomez (1998) and San Jose defenseman and Calder finalist Brad Stuart (1998); Colorado players and Stanley Cup champions Alex Tanguay (1998) and Martin Skoula (1998); NHL All-Rookie Team selection and 2001 NHL All-Star Game participant Philadelphia’s Simon Gagne (1998); Canadian Olympic camp invitees Edmonton’s Eric Brewer (1997) and Dallas’ Brendan Morrow (1997); Buffalo’s Tim Connolly (1999), Phoenix’s Paul Mara (1997), New York Rangers goaltender Dan Blackburn (2001); and Nashville's David Legwand (1998) and Scott Hartnell (2000).

The first Top Prospects Game was held in historic Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto and featured such players as Detroit's Boyd Devereaux, Ottawa's Chris Phillips, Buffalo's J.P. Dumont and Tampa Bay's Cory Sarich and Jaroslav Svejkovsky. Attended by more than 10,000 fans and over 200 scouts, the Top Prospects Game was well received and has become an annual staple in preparation for the NHL Entry Draft.

Over the past six years, the Top Prospects Game has become a highly visible event, attended by over 60,000 hockey fans. The 2002 NHL/CHL Top Prospects Game will be staged at Saskatoon Place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on January 31, marking the first time it will be hosted by a non-NHL city. The event has been played in Toronto four times (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000) and twice in Calgary (1999, 2001).

The two-day event includes special practices and a skills evaluation that includes skating events (60' sprint, 120' sprint, full lap of the rink), a puck control test and a measure of the hardest shot. The skills evaluation will be held at Saskatoon Place on Wednesday, Jan. 30, while the game will be played on Thursday, Jan. 31 (8 p.m. ET, SportsNet).

Players selected to participate in the Top Prospects Game are chosen by the NHL's Central Scouting Service and the head scouts of all NHL clubs. In its 27th year of operation, Central Scouting employs nine full-time scouts and six part-time scouts who report throughout North America.

For complete Top Prospects Game summaries, rosters and skills evaluation records and results, select from the links below.