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Team Orr defeats Team Cherry in Oshawa

Written by: Tyler Bodman on 14th January 2009

PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT

Bobby Orr and Cody Eakin share a laugh after defeating Team Don Cherry 6-1 in the CHL Top Prospects game on Jan. 14 | read this item

Team Bobby Orr once again came out on top defeating Team Don Cherry, 6-1, in the 2009 CHL Top Prospects game last Wednesday, Jan. 14.

In front of an arena full of NHL scouts and general managers at the General Motors centre in Oshawa, head coach Bobby Orr was smiling after the game while his good buddy Don Cherry sulked beside him for the third consecutive year.

“As Don [Cherry] has said many times, this isn’t your typical All-Star game,” said Orr in the press conference after the game. “This is a game were the kids are trying to show their stuff and every one of them did.”

The game was filled with speed, skill, and even a little controversy.

The meaning of the game changed two weeks ago once ex-Oshawa General John Tavares was traded at the CHL deadline to the London Knights along with defenceman Michael Del Zotto, and goaltender Daryl Borden, for a package of roster players, draft picks, and money. It turned the game into a homecoming of sorts for Tavares, who came back to where he began his career at age 14.

“There’s going to be a lot of very good, solid hockey players from out of this bunch”

However, it wasn’t Tavares who stole the show. Swift Current Bronco, and player of the game for team Orr, Cody Eakin, and Quebec Rempart David Gilbert, both potted two goals, and were physical forces throughout the entire game.

When asked if the players were trying to play a more physical game in front of all the scouts instead of going after the puck as they normally would, Eakin responded that the key for the players was the right balance between the two.

“You want to bring a physical aspect, but only if the hit is there,” he said. “The puck is just as important. You just have to use a bit of smarts.”

Tavares was nailed from behind by Kingston Frontenacs defenceman Tyler Doherty. Shortly afterward he was hit again, behind the net by Zach Kassian of the Peterborough Petes. The hit knocked the Knights star out of the game with an apparent shoulder injury.

Cherry was quick to dismiss the idea that players targeted the top ranked players like Tavares in these sorts of games just to make an impression on the scouts.

“No I don’t think so,” he said. “He [Tavares] carries the puck a lot, and when you carry the puck a lot you’re going to get hit. Its that simple.”

Player of the game for team Cherry was Saginaw Spirit’s goalie, Edward Pasquale, who came into the game to relieve Kootenay Ice’s Nathan Lieuwen halfway through the second period, stopping 20 of 21 shots.

At the other end, Cape Breton’s Olivier Roy and Owen Sound’s Scott Stajcer combined to stop 42 of the 43 shots they faced for team Orr, earning the victory.

“There’s going to be a lot of very good, solid hockey players from out of this bunch,” concluded Orr.

Topics: Bobby Orr, Cody Eakin, Don Cherry, John Tavares, Oshawa, Top Prospects