One of the top offensive players this season for the Windsor Spitfires is up for a CHL award.
Spitfires forward Gabriel Vilardi, expected to be a high draft choice in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, was named Friday as a finalist for the CHL's Sherwin-Williams Top Prospect Award.
Vilardi is up for the award against Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings and Nico Hischier of the Halifax Mooseheads.
Despite losing ice time this season due to an appendectomy, the 17-year-old Vilardi has been a key forward for Windsor. The Kingston, Ont. native had 29 goals for 61 points in the regular season and two goals for six points in the OHL playoffs. During the Spitfires' current Memorial Cup campaign, Vilardi has five assists and a plus-minus rating of three.
The award winner will be announced along with all other categories during the CHL Awards ceremony on Saturday night.
Vilardi and the Spitfires are preparing for the Memorial Cup Finals on Sunday night at the WFCU Centre. The Spitfires were perfect in round-robin play and earned an automatic Finals berth. They will play the winner of Friday night's semifinal game between the Erie Otters and the Saint John Sea Dogs.