Centre Ice Executive Director Todd Spaulding confirms to The Ticker that the Traverse City NHL Prospect Tournament will not be held this year. It will mark the first time in more than 25 years that young prospects from NHL teams will not converge on TC to train and compete. Detroit Red Wings prospects will instead travel to Dallas to workout with Dallas Stars prospects.

The change could mark the end of the tournament, which began in 1997 and at its peak involved eight teams. Last year only the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars competed. 

“Yes, there were as many as eight teams here for the prospect camp several years ago, but there are lots of prospect camps now and teams are doing different things, Spaulding tells The Ticker. 

Some reports speculate that the Red Wings and Stars will alternate prospect training sites every year going forward. 

Importantly, Spaulding emphasizes that the Red Wings training camp — when the entire team comes to TC in late September to prepare for the upcoming regular season — is still on, with details to come soon. 

Both the prospect tournament and training camp have generated national attention and attracted fans from far and wide to the Traverse City area.