Postcard from Top Prospects Game

Well, I just finished up a great experience at the Top Prospects Game in Toronto, so this blog is hot off the presses.

Our team, Team Orr, scored a 7-1 victory over Team Cherry so we feel pretty good. Everyone wanted to showcase themselves and I thought it was a good turnout. It was an honor to be out there with these guys and it's pretty cool that everyone showcased themselves. You could see guys from different leagues and listen what different coaches had to say, so there was even more to learn.

Once I was out there, it was just another game. You want to showcase yourself (to those scouts in attendance) but you have to keep in the back of your mind that people are watching. You try not to do things you can't do right; you have to play your game right.

It was great sharing in this with everyone from the CHL. It was an honor for sure and it's been fun. It was great because coaches Doug Gilmour and Wendel Clark skated with us for the first time on Wednesday morning. It was great learning from them and hearing what they had to say.

I know I'm a smaller guy out there, but I knew I could use my speed and quickness to my advantage to get around those big defensemen. I think I have the speed to do it as well. (Daniel) Catenacci and me are almost the same size and he won the fastest skater competition (Tuesday). We worked the same line during the top prospects game and it was fun. Lucas Lessio was also on our line. Catenacci is a quick player. We were talking in the locker room about using our speed wide; that's our best asset out there and we did that.

Before leaving for the top prospects game, I talked to (Tyson) Barrie (who played at the top prospects game and is captain in Kelowna). He just said to have fun with everything and play your game like you know how.

I was a part of the fastest skater competition during the skills event on Tuesday but fell and couldn't make up the time. As I was rounding the net on the stretch run, I think the guy told me I was at 8.5 seconds and he said I would have had the record (Catenacci in 14.017) if I didn't fall. So that was pretty disappointing but we all had fun out here. I was mad but I guess I can laugh about it now.

It was really cool watching those breakaway shots. (Tomas) Yurco was unreal … I've never seen that before and the crowd was loving it for sure. (Sven) Baertschi and me were talking, and I told him to do the one off his head. I also kind of gave him the idea with his stick, but he modified it a little bit and it was pretty cool how he went top shelf with that one.

During the 3-on-3 game, I wasn't expecting (Duncan) Siemens to come over and cross check me in the stomach twice. So I said something to him during the play and he did it again. So I whacked him there in the skates. I guess it's all part of the game.

I was also asked to comment on the recent NHL Central Scouting rankings (McColgan rated No. 102 among North American skaters). It's always disappointing when you're in the triple digits. It's not where I want to be, whatsoever. But, it is what it is and I was here at the Top Prospects Game for a reason --  to showcase myself and make sure I get up in that draft. Just like I know I should be.

Thanks for reading and talk to you next month.