The Chicago Blackhawks will have their future players suit up to play in the annual prospect tournament this week in Traverse City, Michigan at Centre Ice Arena.
The tournament includes the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues. The teams are split into five-team divisions and face each team once with the top two teams from each division playing in the championship game on the final day.
The Blackhawks are the reigning tournament champions after Alex DeBrincat and company led the team to the title in 2017. DeBrincat, who scored a team-high 28 goals during his rookie season in 2017-18, won’t be in action but Chicago will have plenty of top-end talent for this year’s tournament led by Rockford IceHogs head coach Jeremy Collition.
Chicago’s roster includes 25 players: 14 forwards, eight defenseman and three goaltenders. The Hawks’ top prospects to play in the tournament with NHL experience are forwards Victor Ejdsell and Dylan Sikura and defenseman Blake Hillman, while 2017 first-round draft pick Henri Jokiharju will also suit up. Chicago’s two first-rounders from this year in defensemen Adam Boqvist and Nicolas Beaudin will be in action as well.
Tournament schedule
Friday, Sept. 7
4 p.m. — Chicago vs. Columbus (West Rink)
Saturday, Sept. 8
3 p.m. — Chicago vs. Carolina (Davids Rink)
Monday, Sept. 10
7:30 p.m. — Chicago vs. St. Louis (West Rink)
Tuesday, Sept. 11
3 p.m. — 7th place game (Davids Rink)
3:30 p.m. — 5th place game (West Rink)
6:30 p.m. — 3rd place game (Davids Rink)
7 p.m. — Championship game (West Rink)