Rychel plays in Top Prospects Game

by Rob Benneian

Kerby Rychel is no stranger to the big stage.

He has represented Canada at both the under-17 and under-18 levels, winning gold and bronze medals respectively. He scored 41 goals a year ago for the Windsor Spitfires, best on the team and tied for sixth in the Ontario Hockey League.

His biggest stage came in Halifax Jan. 16 in front of a national television audience when he competed in the CHL Top Prospects Game. The game pitted the 40 best NHL draft-eligible players the Canadian Hockey League has to offer.

“It’s definitely special. The CHL is a good league and being one of the top 40 guys who are draft eligible is something good to have on your resume,” said Rychel.

But just because Rychel has been there, done that and got the t-shirt doesn’t mean he was without questions heading into the Top Prospects Game.

“He was just wondering what the schedule was like,” said Windsor teammate Nick Ebert, who was invited to participate in the showcase a year ago. “I just told him how they did a skating test and stuff like that. He was pretty interested and hopefully I helped him out a little bit.”

Ebert took home the Hardest Shot honours in the skills competition in Kelowna, B.C., but was unable to compete in the game due to food poisoning.

Rychel dropped the gloves with Plymouth Whalers forward Ryan Hartman in the first period and helped Team Orr to a 3-0 win over Team Cherry. According to NHL scout Craig Button, it is no surprise to see Rychel doing whatever his team asks of him.

“He is a player that, when he is out on the ice, there are no shortcuts,” said Button. “He plays in straight lines, he’s gonna pay the price to play and he’s no fun to play against. When Kerby matures physically and gets to the NHL, he’s one of those guys where, you’re gonna hear this about him, you need guys like Kerby Rychel to win in the playoffs.”

Rychel will attempt to guide the Spitfires into the playoffs for the second straight season as Windsor’s leading goal-scorer.