By Aaron Bell:
Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler of the Windsor Spitfires, Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers, Tyler Toffoli of the Ottawa 67’s, Jeff Skinner of the Kitchener Rangers, Devante Smith-Pelly of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors and Ryan Spooner of the Peterborough Petes were in Windsor to compete in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game this past week and they are all playing in the 2010 OHL All-Star Classic in Kingston February 2-3.
Hall, the second overall pick in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection from the Greater Kingston Predators, is looking forward to be playing the game in his hometown.
“That’s going to be an exciting time for me,” Hall said. “It might be one of the last times I get to play in Kingston. I always seem to play well there in front of my family and friends and it should be a good time. I love playing in all-star games.”
Hall said that he doesn’t always get a warm reception when he visits the K-Rock Centre with the Spitfires but hopes that he gets a few more cheers when he’s there to represent the Western Conference.
“The last time I played there I got booed,” Hall said. “Hopefully that doesn’t happen this time. Hopefully they cheer for me.”
Ryan Spooner is a sophomore with the Peterborough Petes and said that he is also looking forward to playing in the OHL All-Star Game for the home side from the Eastern Conference.
“I found out about a week ago that I made that and was really excited,” Spooner said. “I was at home watching that last year and I was thinking that I might be fortunate enough to make that. I have and I’m just going to go there and give it my all.”
Spooner said that playing in these special events is a terrific opportunity to showcase his skills.
“It really brings out the best in your game,” Spooner said. “It’s really challenging and it’s a competition out there. I think guys are going out there to have fun with it but I think there is also that competitive edge to it.”
Spooner said that participating in the Home Hardware Top Prospects Skills Competition on Tuesday in Windsor will help him prepare for a similar event in Kingston.
“It was pretty nerve wracking - the skills competitions,” Spooner said. “I don’t know what I’m doing yet but whatever it is I’ll go out there and just try to do my best.”
