Schaefer, Prokop Compete Tonight in Memorial Cup Round Robin

Nashville Predators fans can get a look at two Predators prospects as they compete for the Memorial Cup beginning tonight. Defenseman Luke Prokop and forward Reid Schaefer will take the ice with their Seattle Thunderbird teammates as they face off in their opening game against the Peterborough Petes. 

Prokop, a 2020 third round pick for the Predators, played 43 regular season games for the Birds scoring 4 goals and recording 21 points. The 6'5" defenseman ended the season with a +38 as the team went 54-11-1-2. 

Schaefer, an Edmonton Oilers first round pick in 2022, was a part of the Mattias Ekholm trade in February that brought the forward to the Predators organization. In his 55 games this season in Seattle, Schaefer scored 28 goals and 33 assists for 61 points - fifth best on the team. 

Seattle finished the regular season atop the Western Conference in the WHL with the second best record in the league. Their postseason run began with sweeps in the first and second round before facing the Kamloops Blazers in the third round. It took six games to best the Blazers who are also taking part in the Memorial Cup tournament. The Thunderbirds defeated the Winnipeg Ice in five games to win the championship. 

Tonight Schaefer, Prokop, and the Thunderbirds will face the Petes in their first game of the ten day tournament. The game will be broadcast on NHL Network at 5pm CST. 

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