By Glen Erickson

For many Ontario Hockey League players attending the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game this week, they are traveling across the country on their own as the sole representative from their respective junior teams. In all likelihood, this will be their longest road trip of season, flying into the mountainous Okanagan Valley region in the British Columbia interior.

However, in some cases there will be prospects who are able to look over at a friendly face during the festivities in Kelowna. Enter Brendan Gaunce and Daniil Zharkov of the Belleville Bulls, teammates in the OHL who will be rooming together here while the hockey spotlight shines on junior hockey’s elite prospects.

Gaunce, whose older brother Cameron was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche and is toiling with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League this season, may find himself doing some extra heavy lifting on the media side this week, riding shotgun for Zharkov, an import left-winger from Russia who continues to work on his command of the English language.

“I think Daniil is better with talking hockey lingo rather than doing interviews,” Gaunce smiled. “He is learning things maybe in a different way being around hockey guys so much, but we’re rooming together here so I don’t think it will be too different for him. I hope I can help him with any adjustments and maybe make it easier for him.”

But it’s not all about Zharkov here, as his presence in Kelowna is also important to Gaunce.

“Having Daniil here makes it more comfortable for me, for sure,” Gaunce said. “I know a couple of other guys that are here, from playing against them when I was younger, but a lot of the guys here are from different leagues, so I’m not used to being around them. So it’s good for me to have someone here who I am used to talking to before games.”
 
Had fate not cruelly intervened a few weeks ago, the Bulls would have had a trio of players in Kelowna. Unfortunately, goaltender Malcolm Subban has been nursing a nagging groin injury, suffered in practice back in December.

“It would have been great if Malcolm had been able to come,” Gaunce added. “But he was held back due to that injury.”

Subban has been replaced in Kelowna by Chris Driedger of the Calgary Hitmen.

Gaunce was selected by the Bulls in the first round, second overall, at the 2010 OHL Draft. Clearly, the native of Markham, Ontario has the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in his crosshairs. With the Bulls battling for a playoff position in the Eastern Conference, Gaunce is focused on being a consistent producer in Belleville. Through 47 games, the 6’2, 212-pounder has scored 22 goals and added 23 assists. During is rookie season, he collected 36 points in 65 games.

Zharkov, who credits teammate Stephen Silas (COL) with helping him to improve his English, has rebounded from a broken collarbone suffered early this season, He checks in at 6’3, 200 pounds and has tallied 15 times and added seven assists in 29 games. The St. Petersburg, Russia native toiled last season with the Tri City Storm of the USHL before opting for the developmental opportunities associated with the CHL schedule. And, although he will represent Team Cherry in the breakaway competition in Kelowna, it is rumoured that Zharkov might have turned a few heads with one of the heaviest shots among the prospects here.

Gaunce will also skate for Team Cherry.