NHL hopefuls play in valley

Photo: Vancouver Canucks

Top NHL prospects will be hitting the ice in the Okanagan later this summer to show off their skills.

The Vancouver Canucks announced Thursday that the City of Penticton will host the 2016 Young Stars Classic for the sixth year at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

“We are very excited to once again hold the Young Stars Classic in beautiful Penticton,” said Trevor Linden, Canucks president of hockey operations. “The Young Stars Classic launches a new season and offers a great opportunity to watch NHL prospects develop in competitive games. We’re grateful to our gracious hosts, The South Okanagan Events Centre and the city of Penticton for always making this a first class experience.”

The tournament will go from Friday, Sept. 16, to Monday, Sept. 19. 

The four-team, round-robin tournament will feature prospects from the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, and Vancouver Canucks. The four participating teams also hold four of the top six selections at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft: Winnipeg, second overall; Edmonton, fourth overall; Vancouver, fifth overall; and Calgary, sixth overall.

“The hockey is astonishingly fast and intense. You get to witness players get their start and see firsthand hockey heroes of the past who are now part of the management or coaching. It truly is a must attend event for all hockey fans,” said event chair and City of Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit. “Now celebrating six years in Penticton, we welcome and appreciate the significant economic impact and exposure that having this NHL-caliber hockey brings to our community and region.”

Tournament tickets and VIP packages will go on sale on Friday, July 8, at 10 a.m.

Six Canucks prospects that participated in the Young Stars Classic in September 2015 played in at least one NHL regular season game in 2015-16 including current roster players Ben Hutton and Jake Virtanen.

Young Stars Classic Schedule:

GAME                   TEAMS                                        DATE                     TIME 

Game 1                Calgary vs. Winnipeg                   Sept. 16                4 p.m. 

Game 2                Vancouver vs. Edmonton             Sept. 16                7:30 p.m. 

Game 3                Calgary vs. Edmonton                  Sept. 17                7:30 p.m. 

Game 4                Vancouver vs. Winnipeg               Sept. 18                2 p.m.

Game 5                Edmonton vs. Winnipeg               Sept. 19                11:30 a.m. 

Game 6                Vancouver vs. Calgary                 Sept. 19                 3:30 p.m.