Former Generals captain John Tavares celebrates one of two goals he scored in his Knights debut on Sunday. (Morris Lamont/London Free Press/Canadian Press)

John Tavares isn't sure if he'll wave to the crowd or raise his stick Wednesday night in what will likely be his final goodbye to the Oshawa Generals faithful.

The 18-year-old centre will be one of 40 Canadian junior hockey prospects and European imports competing in the CHL-NHL Top Prospects game at the General Motors Centre (7 p.m. ET).

Tavares, fresh off his second gold-medal victory with Canada at the world junior championship, is ranked the top North American skater for this summer's NHL entry draft in Montreal.

"I think it's going to be great — one final game here in Oshawa," the former Generals captain told CBCSports.ca by phone Wednesday morning. "I've already looked around at a lot of things that I'm going to miss about this rink.

"I've kind of gone past all the emotional stuff that I went through last week with not being a General anymore for the rest of my junior career."

Last Thursday, Tavares waived his no-trade clause and agreed to a move to the London Knights, who are second in the Ontario Hockey League's Western Conference with a 32-8-1 record. Defenceman Michael Del Zotto and goaltender Daryl Borden were also shipped to London.

The Generals, currently fifth in the 10-team East — the top eight clubs from each conference make the playoffs — stockpiled assets for the present and future in the deal.

The haul from London included forward Christian Thomas, defenceman Scott Valentine and goaltender Michael Zador. Oshawa also received six draft picks — London's four second-round picks for the next four years, and the Knights' third-rounders in 2010 and 2011.

With thoughts of challenging for the East Division title, Tavares said he had doubts about leaving the Generals and considered not waiving the no-movement clause. He remembered spending days in November trying to cope with the thought of wearing another team's jersey.

"I wanted to stay but I also didn't want to be selfish knowing what the team could get in return for me," said Tavares, who scored twice and added an assist in his Knights debut on Sunday after posting 54 points in 31 games with Oshawa this season.

"There are some good players that are going to be coming here and there's going to be a great future [in Oshawa]."

'Once a General, always a General'

When Tavares thinks about moving forward, he's reminded of a big picture on the wall at the GM Centre with the words: "Once a General, always a General."

"This place will always be in my heart but I'm a Knight now," Tavares said.

On Wednesday, he'll skate as a member of Team Orr — coached by the legendary Bobby Orr — against Team Cherry, coached by Hockey Night in Canada personality Don Cherry.

Orr had his No. 2 retired and raised to the rafters by the Generals on Nov. 27. He started in Oshawa at age 14 in 1962 and racked up 116 goals and 321 points in four seasons.

"You see how much everybody loves him and the respect they have for him," Tavares said of Orr, now a player agent. "I think every hockey player looks at that and wants that feeling, to come back [to their junior team] 30 years down the road and still be remembered and honoured."

In three-plus seasons as a General, Tavares collected 183 goals and 383 points.

He admitted the sight of Orr on the bench Wednesday along with his assistant, Generals general manager and head coach Chris DePiero, would be a little surreal. But, he noted, it will be important to keep things in perspective.

"Obviously, it's going to be a great experience and I want to enjoy it," he said, "but you don't want to put too much pressure on yourself. You want to focus on the game."

Tavares, the most valuable player at the recent world junior tourney, will share the ice with fellow gold medallists Ryan Ellis of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires and Evander Kane of the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants.

"I just want to play my game, make sure I'm playing well on both sides of the puck and bring that leadership aspect that I've been trying to bring all year in Oshawa, now London and throughout the world juniors," said Tavares.

"If I just play hard and enjoy the experience, I think things will fall into place. I'm excited."