The Canadian Hockey League is set to do something the Vancouver Canucks refused to do in 17 seasons - split up the Sedin brothers.

The eyes and ears of the junior hockey world were fixated on the Langley Events Centre on Monday (Dec. 12) as the 40 players invited to compete at the 2023 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game were revealed.

Also on-hand for the event was Vancouver Giants co-owner and multi-time Grammy Award winning artist Michael Buble, Giants majority owner Ron Toigo and the coaches for the Jan. 25, 2023 鈥� Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Canucks legend Stan Smyl and Vancouver Giants head coach Michael Dyck.

Henrik will be paired with Dyck as coaches for one team, while Daniel and Smyl will be behind the bench for the the other squad.

The 40 players invited are the top 2023 NHL Draft eligible players from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The players were identified and selected via a survey conducted with the NHL鈥檚 32 teams. The full list of players can be found at

The biggest draw for the game is North Vancouver product and Regina Pats superstar Connor Bedard. The 17-year-old phenom sold out the LEC when the Pats came to Langley last month and is scoring at a torrid pace in the WHL, with 28 points in 15 games. He will also suit up for Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships, which begin later this month in Halifax and Moncton.

Giants players Jaden Lipinski and Samuel Hoznek were also named to the game. Lipinski has 24 points in 30 games this season with the club, while Hoznek has 41 points in 30 games.

Other B.C. players receiving invites include: Portland Winterhawks defenceman Luca Cargoni (Burnaby), Tri-City American defenceman Lukas Dragicevic (Richmond), Saskatoon Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk (McBride), Winnipeg Ice forward Zach Benson (Chilliwack), 琉璃神社 Rockets forward Andrew Cristall (Burnaby) and Seattle Thunderbirds forward Nico Myatovic (Prince George).

WE'VE GOT A PAIR OF GUYS IN THE KUBOTA TOP PROSPECTS GAME!

馃抠:
馃敆:

鈥� Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants)

The team rosters and leadership groups for each team will be announced closer to the game.

Henrik said his main goal behind the bench is to let the players show their stuff.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not about us,鈥� he said, of when asked about a potential rivalry behind the bench with his twin brother. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about their career so the focus will be on them and I hope the players have some rivalry between them.鈥�

Daniel said he鈥檚 looking forward to watching the young players talents first hand.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be fun 鈥� there is so much skill and watching how these guys interact with each other and use totally new teammates will be fun,鈥� he said.

Daniel said he and Henrik are assisting in Abbotsford and the brothers are enjoying being involved with the team at the American Hockey League level.

鈥淲e try to watch every game and then go workout with some of the young guys before practice,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey ask us a lot of questions, especially about what to do on the power play. It鈥檚 been fun because they鈥檙e so welcoming and it鈥檚 a great group in Abbotsford.鈥�

Henrik explained that he and his brothers main goal is to help the players in Abbotsford reach Vancouver

鈥淲e鈥檙e there to help offer support for the players,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey all have the same goal, which is to take the next step. If we can give feedback on things that we see then we鈥檙e super happy doing that. And if we give them something that helps then that is all we ask for.鈥�

Both Sedins have noticed Abbotsford Canucks prospect and fellow countryman Linus Karlsson and his strong start in the AHL. Karlsson has collected 16 points in 22 games so far this season as a rookie.

鈥淗e鈥檚 been doing awesome,鈥� Daniel said. 鈥淚 think for him it鈥檚 obviously a big learning curve coming over from Sweden. I didn鈥檛 think he would be as far ahead as he is right now. He鈥檚 going to be up and down, but he really wants to learn which is good.鈥�

Henrik said he has been impressed with what he鈥檚 seen from Karlsson.

鈥淲e know he鈥檚 a good player but it鈥檚 a lot of games up here,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy coming from Sweden because you often get more rest between games compared to here. There is also a lot more travel and back-to-back games so it will be an adjustment for him but he has played well.鈥�

The Giants hit the road and play the Royals in Victoria on Wednesday (Dec. 14) and then return home to host Portland on Friday (Dec. 16).

Select tickets remain for the Sedins CHL coaching debut at the LEC on Jan. 25, 2023. For more information, visit