ISS NHL DRAFT RANKINGS 1 NOLAN PATRICK........................... BRANDON (WHL) 2 NICO HISCHIER............................ HALIFAX (QMJHL) 3 GABE VILARDI............................... WINDSOR (OHL) 4 MIRO HEISKANEN................... HIFK HELSINKI (FinE) 5 OWEN TIPPETT............................. MISSISSAUGA (OHL) 6 CODY GLASS................................PORTLAND (WHL) 7 CASEY MITTELSTADT..........EDEN PRAIRIE (MN-HS) 8 TIMOTHY LILJEGREN........................ROGLE (SweE) 9 CALE MAKAR..................................BROOKS (AJHL) 10 MICHAEL RASMUSSEN...................TRI-CITY (WHL)
+ TOP 50 INSIDE
WILL VILARDI COMPLETE TRIFECTA OF CHL ALL-STAR DREAM TEAM? NOLAN VS. NICO: THE DEBATE RAGES ON June 23, 2017
CJHL POWERHOUSE CALE MAKAR READY TO MOVE ON TO NEXT LEVEL IS 2017 THE YEAR OF THE GOALIE? HockeyNow.ca
2
HOCKEYNOW June 23, 2017
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME
B
ACK IN 2015, WHEN HE WAS A CIH
Academy minor midget/midget player and Windsor Spitfires second overall draft pick, Gabe Vilardi was named the HockeyNow Minor Hockey Player of the Year. And now, just two years later, he’s coming off an incredible Memorial Cup performance and preparing for a life changing draft day. We chose Vilardi as our 2015 Ontario winner because of his palpable dedication to the game. CIH director of Hockey Guy Girouard told us: “I have rarely seen a player so focused and committed to getting better. He took advantage of every opportunity and made the most out of it.” ISS Hockey has Vilardi ranked at #3, and come June 23rd, he will be joining Dante Fabbro, Mathew Barzal, Curtis Lazar, Morgan Rielly, Griffin Reinhart, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Karl Alzner and Gilbert Brulé as HN POYs who were selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. Like our 2009 co-winners Reinhart and Rielly who were picked up at #4 and #5 at the 2012 draft, we may get to see two of our former POYs drafted this year too. 2014 winner Jaret Anderson-Dolan is ranked at #31 by ISS, as the possible final pick on Day 1. Both Vilardi and Anderson-Dolan had outstanding 2016-17 seasons and we can’t wait to see where they get drafted. And beyond the NHL Draft, this has been a huge year for our former POYs. 2012 winner Barzal, who was drafted 16th overall by the New York Islanders in 2015, joined Vilardi at the Memorial Cup after leading the Seattle Thunderbirds to a surprise WHL championship. The T-Birds’ streak ended at the Memorial Cup, but Barzal was still outstanding – just as he was at the World Juniors earlier this year, where he helped Canada win silver alongside our 2013 POY Dante Fabbro. Obviously, our player of the year selection committee has an incredible track record and once again, they are working hard to make their final choices. We’ve been releasing preliminary lists from each region in print and online every month since November and we’re only a couple weeks away from announcing our winners in B.C., Alberta and Ontario. We have some great talent and leadership across the board and, even though we say this every year, this year we are truly facing some of the most difficult decisions yet. But, as always, our winners will stand out in one way or another and we will once again have the honour of calling them up to tell them the news that they’ve won the award. Three outstanding players will soon be presented with a trophy and will also be gracing next month’s cover. Enjoy our NHL Entry Draft preview, look out for our past Players of the Year, and stay tuned for our next batch of winners!
LARRY FEIST, Publisher On Twitter: @HockeyNow
NEXT EDITION: July 15, 2017
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HockeyNow Box 714 Lethbridge, AB, T1J 3Z4 Telephone: 1-877-990-0520 Contents copyright 2017 by HockeyNow. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or duplicated in print or online without the written permission of HockeyNow. The opinions conveyed by contributors to HockeyNow may not be indicative of the views of HockeyNow. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, HockeyNow does not assume any responsibility or liability for errors or omissions.
June 23, 2017 HOCKEYNOW
3 19 11
2016 WINNERS
THE COUNTDOWN IS ON.
The HockeyNow Minor Hockey Player of the Year winners for B.C., Alberta and Ontario will be revealed online at hockeynow.ca on July 14th and in our July 15th print edition. STAY TUNED.
CONTENTS
JUNE 23, 2017
6
ISS TOP 50
GET TO KNOW TOP PROSPECTS ON ISS FINAL RANKINGS
CHL DREAM TEAM
WILL CHL SCORE TRIFECTA OF WHL, QMJHL AND OHL 1-2-3?
BY THE NUMBERS
SEE HOW PROJECTED 2017 FIRST ROUNDERS STACK UP
SPOTLIGHT: GOALIES
WHY 2017 COULD BE YEAR OF THE GOALIE
POY PROUD
HN PLAYER OF THE YEAR DRAFT DOMINANCE CONTINUES
11
IT ALL STARTS ON PAGE 11…
in this issue... 6 MINOR
TEAM JAMAICA LOOKING FOR THE NEXT GREAT JAMAICANCANADIAN HOCKEY STARS
7 MOMS’ CORNER
AFTER A SEASON OF CARPOOLS, EARLY MORNINGS AND LAUNDRY, THIS HOCKEY MOM CAN’T WAIT TO DO IT ALL AGAIN NEXT FALL
10 FEMALE
CWHL CROSSING BORDERS – AND OCEANS – TO GROW FEMALE GAME
“A LOT OF PEOPLE
THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE, BUT IT DEFINITELY ISN’T.” – Noora Raty
10 June 23, 2017 HOCKEYNOW
5 19 11
SPECIAL FEATURE
COURTESY OF JOIHF
MINOR
ONE LOVE
Team Jamaica actively seeking Jamaican-Canadian players as they break through skepticism to build their program and become the next great international phenomenon STORY | Kirk Budden
J ‘
AMAICA’ AND ‘HOCKEY’ AREN’T OFTEN COUPLED in the same sentence just as the sport isn’t familiar to the tropical country. But that is all looking to change with the Jamaican Olympic International Hockey Federation (JOIHF). Backed by NHLers including former Boston Bruin Graeme Towsnhead, the first Jamaican-born player to play in the NHL, leading the federation’s coaching staff, the JOIHF isn’t trying to throw together just any kind of hockey team. JOIHF Advisory Board member Donovan Tait has hit some bumps along the road recruiting as a scout for Team Jamaica in western Canada. “One coach in Alberta laughed at me when I asked about players on his team or around the league that might be eligible for Team Jamaica,” he says. “It’s tough to get past that initial hurdle.” There are over 250,000 Jamaican-Canadians according to the Canadian Census in 2011, and that number is growing each year. Tait explains that the reason it’s so tough to scout isn’t about just being taken seriously. He gets calls on players from the wrong background or receives skepticism, even from Jamaican parents about joining Team Jamaica. But all it takes to get citizenship is for the parent to have their Jamaican citizenship and then the child is eligible. The JOIHF has engaged a strong core of people to run the organization so it will be taken seriously. They recognize that COURTESY OF JOIHF
6
HOCKEYNOW June 23, 2017
being ‘Team Jamaica’ in hockey runs the risk of becoming a novelty if it’s not managed properly. “It was tough for me to get in,” says Tait who has been in the program for three years. “They want a real foundation of hockey people with a reputable background.” “I am a Jamaican citizen, played and coached at the junior level but it also took that I was in the RCMP for over 20 years in Nanaimo, B.C.,” he said. “That made me reputable and I’m in the west coast so I could have an effective contribution.” It comes as no surprise that people have an initial reaction of ‘really?’ but that’s what the recruiters need to push through. However, the more presence JOIHF gets in high-level hockey, the more weight the name ‘Team Jamaica’ will hold. The JOIHF is currently putting together two development teams: an under 20 team and an under 16 team to showcase around the country and attract new skaters. The U20 team was invited to Nova Scotia in May as
The Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation is currently putting together two development teams: an under-20 team and an under-16 team to participate in tournaments across the country and attract new skaters.
part of a fundraiser for celebrating diversity in sport. They played a charity game against some local celebrities, capping the weekend with a showcase game against a U20 Nova Scotia select team. Now with some more traction, Team Jamaica is starting to get noticed for the right reasons. “When we were in Nova Scotia, there were scouts out to watch and they said they’ve never seen a team of all black faces competing at this calibre and skill of hockey,” says Tait. The exposure gained from the weekend has garnered interest from other parts of Canada as well. On June 21, there will be an exhibition evaluation camp for the U20 team for players who play at the Midget AAA level or under major junior level, while the U16 camp is actively looking for high-performance participants before the June 27 registration deadline. After the evaluation camps, players will be participating in the Team Elite Prospect (TEP) showcase in Toronto. Teams come from all over Ontario to play in front of scouts and this year, a German select team will also be attending due to the attention Team Jamaica got last year. Team Jamaica will play the opening game of the tournament against the German select team. It’s the exposure at tournaments like these that often leads to other opportunities. “We are actively accepting invitations to showcase our teams and get more people to notice,” says Tait. He added the federation is looking to be part of similar events as the Nova Scotia event on the west coast with some of the universities in Alberta and B.C., as well as exploring opportunities in Europe. “Right now we’re exploring options to hold something in the west coast possibly with one of the universities. We are also looking at events in Europe to try and get our teams to.” The JOIHF’s ultimate goal is to make it to the Olympics. They are currently affiliated with the IIHF and are hoping to officially join the governing body in the near future. Their U20 squad is made up of junior level players and the U16 team is progressively growing their core. An IIHF study shows Canada has the most registered hockey players age 20 and under, at nearly 500,000. The next step is to find out how many of those players are eligible to play for Team Jamaica, which is any one who is of Jamaican, Caribbean or West Indies descent. The opportunity of making the jump to the international tournament looks like it will happen sooner rather than later. This affects high-level young Canadian hockey players, who could have the chance to play on the international stage as a Jamaican-Canadian. Acknowledging a culture throughout the country and the sport it loves.
Team Jamaica's budding U20 team showcased their talents at a fundraising tournament to celebrate diversity in sport, hosted by the JOIHF in Halifax, N.S. last month.
HOCKEY MOMS CORNER
A SEASON
IN SUMMARY A
FTER THE LAST PUCK IS FIRED INTO THE NET, THE FINAL POST-GAME HANDSHAKE exchanged, one closing locker room speech given by the coach, the game jerseys washed and returned to the association, the hockey equipment sent out for deep-cleaning, and those hockey socks incinerated, there is but one remaining action item on a team’s game plan: the year-end party. I’ve grown accustomed to the predictable phases of a hockey season and can mark its progression much like many mark the passing of the seasons. The predictability is a comfort to me now. Last September, players met in house league sort-outs or competitive try-outs, marking the unofficial debut of another hockey season. This hockey homecoming is as exciting for these hockey players as back-to-school is for hockey moms. Soon our teams are set, introductory emails sent by coaches and managers, and the great icebreaker party is organized. I might have to learn a few new names and but that goes with making some new, lifelong friends. Puck drops at the first league game and the season has officially begun! Soon thereafter is the first away hockey tournament where the team truly bonds as they run around hotel lobbies and unfamiliar hockey arenas. While the players settle into their positions, the parents settle into their favourite spot in the stands and accept their various stereotypes. Oh look! Now it’s Christmas time and there’s the happy hockey team Secret Santa gift exchange and the coach accepts more fruitcake and scotch than he knows what to do with (maybe he does know what to do with the scotch part). Before you know it, the March Breakaway is upon us and if we’re really lucky, we get to exchange the hockey skates for flip flops, if only for a few short days. Then it’s back to the arena. In seemingly no time, we’re into playoffs and everyone is on edge again. Superstitions, nail-biting, the ‘flow’ or the buzz cut dyed hair take over our household. It’s short and sweet (the playoffs, that is, not the playoff hairstyles). And finally, we find ourselves gathered again for the year-end hockey party. Can it already be the end of the season? Where has the time (and all my disposable income) gone? The year-end party hits all the bases – the treasurer takes care of any last minute team fee refunds, volunteers are thanked, and the coach will say a few witty but always kind words about each and every player on his or her team, and the players make sure their group chat is still functioning. We call it a night. Actually, we call it a season. I’ve complained about hockey season being long and cold but then suddenly it’s not. Suddenly, it’s over. I can now happily go home now and stare at the walls for four months until the hockey season kicks into overdrive once again. Can you tell I miss it already?
ASTRA GROSKAUFMANIS
Ottawa mom of three poking fun at motherhood, middle age and minor hockey! Author of Offside by a Mile – Confessions of a Hockey Mom WEBSITE: astragroskaufmanis.com TWITTER: @mydustbunnies June 23, 2017 HOCKEYNOW
7 19 11
PACIFIC JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
TEAMS LOOK TO THE FUTURE AS OAS MOVE ON go the university or Junior A route. The only thing we know for sure is the overagers who will be moving on and here’s a look at how each team in the league could be impacted. ALDERGROVE KODIAKS (36-7-0-0, LEAGUE CHAMPIONS) The Kodiaks will experience a lot of turnover, mainly with league leading scorers Eric Callegari and Cameron Davitt graduating. Callegari, last year’s captain, was named league MVP after leading the league with 73 points (26 goals and 47 assists) while Davitt was the next name up on the leaderboard with 62 points (25 goals and 37 assists). The PJHL champion Aldergrove Kodiaks relied a lot on overagers, including captain Eric Callegari and Cameron Davitt, the league’s top scorers last season. (Doug Abbott photos)
When the 2016-17 PJHL season commences in September, it will be interesting to see which teams will grow or remain competitive and which ones will struggle a bit with roster turnover. The Aldergrove Kodiaks were league champions, but history has shown how tough it is to win two years in a row. The Richmond Sockeyes were the last team to win back-toback in 2003 and 2004, although there have been teams who have won two out of three years or reached back-to-back finals since then. There’s likely to be a lot of turnover league wide as the previous year’s overagers graduate while other players may opt to
Quincy Leroux and Kurt Klimek were relied on heavily while Jeremy Lagler, Sam Bodnaruk, Derian White and Joshua Poitras will be missed as well. The good news is that goaltender Dawson Rodin is among the players eligible to return. DELTA ICE HAWKS (31-12-0-1, LEAGUE FINALISTS) Unlike the league champion Kodiaks, the Ice Hawks won’t be as affected by the loss of their overagers because they didn’t have many. Defenceman Cameron Cuthbert’s departure will hurt as he was one point shy of the point-per-game mark in the regular season with 41 (10 goals and 31 assists). He also was Delta’s leader in playoff points with 18 (five goals and 13 assists). Depth forward Quinten Wideski will also be moving on.
PACIFIC JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
Leading scorers Jordan Bogress, Bradley Crompton and Jonathan Stein and goaltenders Jordan Naylor and Cooper Anderson are all eligible to return, but promotions to Junior A may be in order for some in that group. ABBOTSFORD PILOTS (25-15-0-4, ELIMINATED IN FIRST ROUND) A big hole will be left up front as leading scorers Kolby Steen and Mitchell Plevy are no longer age eligible. Steen was third in league scoring with 57 points (26 goals and 31 assists) while Plevy posted 46 (11 goals and 35 assists). Veteran goalie Jacob Crawford will also be leaving along with forward Phillip Gauthier and defenceman Kellan Lavallee. There are however still good players who can come back like Brady Morton, Mateo Toledo and goaltender Noah Giesbrecht. GRANDVIEW STEELERS (28-9-2-5, REACHED SHAW FINALS) Keito Lee is Grandview’s biggest OA departure. While he put up most of his points with the Port Moody Panthers, he was traded to the Steelers before their playoff run and finished the season with 52 points (23 goals and 29 assists). Forward Adam Rota will be missed, as will defencemen Liam Cumberbirch and Lucas Mercer. Several players can still come back, including goalies Matteo Paler-Chow and Cale Dolan and second leading scorer Jacob Sibenga. MISSION CITY OUTLAWS (18-22-0-4, ELIMINATED IN FIRST ROUND) The Outlaws invested a lot in its OAs this season, acquiring many of them like Jackson Waniek and Kyle Lennea in trades. Leading scorer Ryan Sharma’s time in the league is up as is also the case for key forwards Michal Holub and Sammy Zeinab. Also on their way out are forwards Jacob Dorey and Michael Hamm and defenders Holden Wilkerson and Royce Rossignol. Goalies Matthew Trulsen and Keaton Dyck and forward Nicolas Bizzutto are still eligible. NORTH VANCOUVER WOLF PACK (17-24-1-2, ELIMINATED IN FIRST ROUND) Ian Creamore, who led the Wolf Pack in scoring, is on his way out while key forwards Jackson Tadey and Lucian Serban, goaltender Kurt Russell and defenceman Christian Gacina will be joining him.
While that does leave some holes in the line up, there are enough players who can still come back unless they decide to go elsewhere. Among those names are PJHL rookie of the year Tanner Versluis, Caleb Holonko, Mitchell Ledyard and goalie Alex Forster. PORT MOODY PANTHERS (16-27-0-1, DID NOT MAKE PLAYOFFS) Forward Chase Thomson was the only OA left after the end of last season as the Panthers shipped off their other OAs (Keito Lee, Lucian Serban and Sam Bodnaruk) in trades. Top scorers Daniel Szpakowski, Logan Hunter and Chong Min Lee and goaltender Riley Welyk among many other players can all return next year. RICHMOND SOCKEYES (22-13-3-5, ELIMINATED IN FIRST ROUND) The Sockeyes didn’t rely too much on OAs this year, although Jeeven Sidhu’s departure will leave a hole in their top six forward unit. Also leaving the junior ranks is forward Lucas Stratford. Richmond’s defence can remain in tact while top forwards Arjun Badh, Connor Alderson and Brodie Crawford and PJHL goalie of the year Merek Pipes all still have some eligibility. RIDGE MEADOWS FLAMES (22-18-2-2, REACHED BRITTAIN FINALS) Fourth leading scorer Brandon Galbraith is the only OA from Ridge Meadows set to leave. Goalie Kurt Russell and forward Jacob Dorey were among that group, but they left beforehand in trades to North Vancouver and Mission, respectively. The Flames boast a large number of players who can come back, including leading scorers Andrew Strelezki and Halen Cordoni and goalie tandem Jack Stradiotti and Paul Tucek. SURREY KNIGHTS (0-41-0-3, DID NOT MAKE PLAYOFFS) A significant overhaul is needed for the winless Knights, regardless of which players are too old to return. What we do know for sure is OAs Sheldon O’Neill, Shawn Nicks and Gabe Best won’t be back. The Knights also suffered through the loss of players like Nicolas Bizzutto and Blake McCulloch to trades.
CWHL
COURTESY OF CHRIS TANOUYE/CANADIAN WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE
FEMALE
Left: Members of the Kunlun Red Star board, including Phil Esposito (far right), standing with the Clarkson Cup and CWHL players Kelli Stack (middle, left) who will play for KRS, Julie Chu (middle, right) of the Canadiennes de Montreal and CWHL commissioner Brenda Andress (second from left).
GROWING ACROSS BORDERS CWHL signs historic deal to help grow women’s game internationally STORY | Kristi Patton
E
IGHT YEARS AGO, THE CANADIAN WOMEN’S Hockey League held their first draft at the Hockey Hall of Fame. In early June, commissioner Brenda Andress stood in the same building announcing the CWHL is expanding their borders outside of North America. Much to the chagrin of the well-travelled Calgary Inferno, it will not be a western Canadian team or a hop over the border to another U.S. team. The CWHL is moving to the far east, as China’s Kunlun Red Star enters for the 2017-18 season. “I guess it is only fitting that we find ourselves in the great hall because after tonight’s announcement women’s hockey as we know it will change for the better and it will only continue to grow,” said former Canadian Olympian Tessa Bonhomme, who was the first ever player drafted into the CWHL. Red Star will join the Boston Blades, Brampton Thunder, Calgary Inferno, Toronto Furies and last year’s Clarkson Cup winners Les Canadiennes de Montreal. “This is a marriage across the Pacific between Canada, North American women’s hockey and the Chinese hockey team,” said Kunlun Red Star chairman of the board Alex Zhao, of who has partnered with the Chinese government to boost hockey in the country ahead of the 2022 Olympic Games hosted in Beijing. The deal will provide a new source of income for the
10
HOCKEYNOW June 23, 2017
CWHL, as KRS will pay to play in the league. It will also give an opportunity to attract business sponsors, more fans and follows the mission of the CWHL to grow the game and opportunities for women. Kelli Stack, who was left off the U.S. centralization roster for the 2018 Olympics, and Finnish national team goalie Noora Raty have already signed on to play with the Chinese team, which will be based in Shenzhen (considered to be the Silicon Valley of China). Raty will continue on with the Finnish national team as they get ready for the Olympics, leaving the KRS to train and play when the time comes and then return for CWHL playoffs. Not only will she be between the pipes for KRS, she will also be a mentor and help promote the game in China in order to earn a full salary. “It has always been a dream of mine to play female pro hockey,” Raty told HockeyNow. “What they want to do with female hockey and grow the game in the world is so exciting. I hope that in 10 years the youth today will have it better than my generation.” Raty said when she told hockey colleagues about the opportunity she was bet was a bit of disbelief. “It is still surreal. A lot of people thought it was a joke, but it definitely isn’t. They are a real business and want to grow the game. With how much focus they are putting on female hockey, China will be a powerhouse one day.” Former U.S. Olympian and member of the current Clarkson Cup winners Les Canadiennes de Montréal, Julie Chu said she was one of the only Asians playing hockey in her hometown of Connecticut when she was growing up. “I think this is amazing for the CWHL, for young Chinese girls and all young players to show there are no boundaries for what hockey provides for any of us.”
LOOKING AHEAD The deal will put the Kunlun Red Star into the league starting this upcoming season and the next four after that. The CWHL season will expand to 30 games with each team travelling to China to play a three-game series and China coming to North America to also play. “As part of the CWHL, our mission is to develop a top-tier professional team in order to develop a strong base of female players for our national programs, and new audiences for the sport in China, in the lead-up to hosting the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022,” said Zhao. A second team, the Kunlun Red Star Junior, will join the Eastern Women's Hockey Conference next season, calling New England their home. That league recently launched it's rebrand from the New England Women's Junior Hockey League and will provide elite-level hockey for players 19 and under. Red Star will play in the eight-team Gold Division which includes teams from the eastern U.S. China last played in the Olympics in 2010. The national team program was created in 1992 and finished in fourth at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. They also have fourth place finishes at the IIHF Women’s World Championship in 1995 and 1997. The women’s national team currently sit 16th overall in the women’s world rankings. A strong leadership group is hoping to boost exposure to women’s hockey in China and help develop a winning program as they receive an automatic entry to the Olympics in 2022 as the host nation. Kunlan’s women’s ice hockey team chief coach Digit Murphy is no stranger to the CWHL. She formerly coached the U.S. women’s national team, led the Boston Blades to win the CWHL Clarkson Cup several times as the head coach, is a former head coach of the Brown University women’s hockey team and is the founder of the United Women’s Lacrosse League. The CWHL regular season schedule will be released in mid-June, with opening weekend scheduled for October.
Patrick. Hischier. Vilardi. Glass. Tippett. Makar. The Nolan vs. Nico debate headlines a CHL top-heavy NHL Entry Draft that could see some serious shake-ups thanks to a new expansion team and AJHL golden boy Cale Makar entering the mix. We’ve been following them for years and now it’s time to see where these top prospects will end up. Get ready. Get excited. Don’t miss a thing with our NHL Draft Preview. STORY IAIN COLPITTS IT’S TIME FOR THIS YEAR’S CLASS TO GET READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT. Players like Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier have spent most of their lives honing their hockey skills in pursuit of their dream of making it to the NHL. Now they’re closing in on that reality as we get closer to the 2017 NHL Draft. The bulk of discussion surrounding this year’s draft has been centred around Nolan vs. Nico and which of these budding prospects will go first overall. Consensus has Patrick, the Brandon Wheat Kings power forward, going first overall to the New Jersey Devils, surprise winners of this year’s draft lottery. He’s been the top-ranked prospect for quite some time, even after a season in which he was limited to just 33 games due to injuries that kept him off of Canada’s World Junior team. However, nobody can discount Hischier, who could go down as the best player Switzerland has ever produced by the time his career is over. The Halifax Mooseheads star and 2017 CHL rookie of the year brings a dynamic skillset and hockey sense that has convinced some scouts to rank him ahead of Patrick. Drafting second overall, the Philadelphia Flyers will be over the moon whether they land Patrick or Hischier. They play a different style of game, but are seen as being very close in terms of the value they can bring to a franchise. Slightly further down the list, there’s a who’s who of topend talent like former HockeyNow Player of the Year Gabriel Vilardi, as well as Casey Middlestadt, Miro Heiskanen, Owen Tippett, Cody Glass and Cale Makar, that is ripe for picking. One of these prospects could make history by becoming the first player ever to be drafted by the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.
That comes a few days after the NHL’s first expansion draft in 17 years, which sparked countless rumours on who would be traded or picked up to form the Vegas roster – and how many extra draft picks they may acquire. Whether they’ll be sticking to their #6 pick or adding more, Vegas certainly has a strong prospect pool to choose from. There’s an intriguing group of mid-first round prospects to look out for when you add NHL hopefuls like Michael Rasmussen, Nick Suzuki, Eeli Tolvanen, Timothy Liljegren, Nic Hague, Kailer Yamamoto and other former HockeyNow Player of the Year Jaret Anderson-Dolan into the mix. In recent years, we’ve been spoiled with “generational talents” who have gone through the draft. No one can forget the 2015 draft that saw Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel go 1-2. They both made a seamless transition into the NHL, with McDavid captaining the Edmonton Oilers and leading the league in scoring with 100 points in just his second NHL season. Then the 2016 draft saw Auston Matthews go first overall, followed by Patrik Laine. Like McDavid and Eichel before them, Matthews and Laine didn’t waste any time getting used to the rigours of an NHL schedule. It’s a stretch to say Patrick or Hischier will make that same impact, but they’ll be given every opportunity to make an NHL roster right away and have long careers ahead of them. Several other hopefuls have done as much as they can to prepare for the draft and now comes the time to enjoy the experience with their families, all while remembering that it’s the start of a journey and there’s still a lot of work that lies ahead.
11
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
2
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
3
DALLAS STARS
4
COLORADO AVALANCHE
5
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
6
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
7
ARIZONA COYOTES
8
BUFFALO SABRES
9
DETROIT RED WINGS
10
FLORIDA PANTHERS
11
LOS ANGELES KINGS
12
CAROLINA HURRICANES
13
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
14
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
15
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
16
CALGARY FLAMES
17
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
18
BOSTON BRUINS
19
(from Winnipeg)
(from Winnipeg)
SAN JOSE SHARKS
PROJECTED TO GO 1ST OVERALL IN 2017 NHL DRAFT
FIRST OVERALL DRAFT PICKS (BY POSITION)
According to ISS Hockey, three centres are slated for the top 3 picks at the 2017 edition of the draft. No question centres are a hot commodity, but how have they fared over the years? We look back at the position of each of the first overall draft selections for the past 54 years.
FIRST ROUNDERS (BY LEAGUE)
After international players laid claim to the top 3 spots last year – only to be disrupted by Pierre-Luc Dubois making a surprise appearance at #3 – the CHL is coming in hot in 2017, with all scouts guaranteeing they’ll hold the top two spots and most also slating them for #3. ISS is also predicting the WHL could surpass the OHL in first round picks for the first time since 2007. Here is a breakdown of the total first rounders for each CHL league over the past 10 years.
OTHER 2017 *Projected
2016
20
ST. LOUIS BLUES
21
NEW YORK RANGERS
22
EDMONTON OILERS
23
ARIZONA COYOTES
24
WINNIPEG JETS
25
MONTREAL CANADIENS
26
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
27
ST. LOUIS BLUES
28
OTTAWA SENATORS
29
DALLAS STARS
30
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
31
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
*Last updated June 22, 2017
NOLAN PATRICK CENTRE
(from Minnesota Wild)
2015 2014 2013
(from Columbus via Vegas)
(from Washington)
TIM SMITH/BRANDON SUN
1
2012 2011 2010 2009
(from Anaheim)
2008 2007
9 4 5 9 8 6 5 7 5 9 9
7 9 7 10 8 11 11 9 7 11 3
2 2 5 1 6 1 5 1 4 0 4
13 15 13 10 8 12 9 13 14 10 14
CENTRES - 24
C
LEFT WINGERS - 5
ALL-TIME '83 BRIAN LAWTON '01 ILYA KOVALCHUK '02 RICK NASH '04 ALEX OVECHKIN '10 TAYLOR HALL
GOALIES - 3
'68 MICHEL PLASSE
D
'91 ERIC LINDROS '93 ALEXANDRE DAIGLE '97 JOE THORNTON '98 VINCENT LECAVALIER '99 PATRIK STEFAN '05 SIDNEY CROSBY '08 STEVEN STAMKOS '09 JOHN TAVARES '11 RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS '13 NATHAN MACKINNON '15 CONNOR MCDAVID '16 AUSTON MATTHEWS
RW LW
'00 RICK DIPIETRO
G
'03 MARC-ANDRE FLEURY
DEFENCEMEN - 14
RIGHT WINGERS - 8
'65 ANDRE VEILLEUX '69 REJEAN HOULE '71 GUY LAFLEUR '72 BILLY HARRIS '86 JOE MURPHY '90 OWEN NOLAN '07 PATRICK KANE '12 NAIL YAKUPOV
'63 GARRY MONAHAN '64 CLAUDE GAUTHIER '70 GILBERT PERREAULT '75 MEL BRIDGMAN '77 DALE MCCOURT '78 BOBBY SMITH '80 DOUG WICKENHEISER '81 DALE HAWERCHUK '84 MARIO LEMIEUX '87 PIERRE TURGEON '88 MIKE MODANO '89 MATS SUNDIN
'66 BARRY GIBBS '67 RICK PAGNUTTI '73 DENIS POTVIN '74 GREG JOLY '76 RICK GREEN '79 ROB RAMAGE '82 GORD KLUZAK
'85 WENDEL CLARK* '92 ROMAN HAMRLIK '94 ED JOVANOVSKI '95 BRYAN BERARD '96 CHRIS PHILLIPS '06 ERIK JOHNSON '14 AARON EKBLAD
*Clark was converted to forward after being drafted as a defenceman by the Toronto Maple Leafs
HOCKEYNOW PLAYER OF THE YEAR FIRST ROUND PICKS HockeyNow’s Minor Hockey Player of the Year award recipients have been killing it at the NHL entry draft since our inaugural winner Colin Fraser was drafted 69th overall in 2003 and went on to play eight seasons in the NHL. This year, ISS Hockey is projecting that two of our former POYs, Jaret Anderson-Dolan (2014) and Gabe Vilardi (2015) will be called up on June 23rd. Here is a list of the players of the year who were selected in the first round of the NHL draft.
PROJECTED TO GO 3RD OVERALL IN 2017 NHL DRAFT
JARET ANDERSON-DOLAN | 2014 POY PROJECTED TO GO 31ST OVERALL IN 2017 NHL DRAFT
DANTE FABBRO | 2013 POY
AARON BELL/CHL IMAGES
GABE VILARDI | 2015 ON POY
DRAFTED: 2016 - 17TH OVERALL BY NASHVILLE PREDATORS
MATHEW BARZAL | 2012 POY
DRAFTED: 2015 - 16TH OVERALL BY NEW YORK ISLANDERS
CURTIS LAZAR | 2010 POY
DRAFTED: 2013 - 17TH OVERALL BY OTTAWA SENATORS
MORGAN RIELLY | 2009 POY
DRAFTED: 2012 - 5TH OVERALL BY TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
GRIFFIN REINHART | 2009 POY
DRAFTED: 2012 - 4TH OVERALL BY NEW YORK ISLANDERS
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS | 2008 POY DRAFTED: 2011 - 1ST OVERALL BY EDMONTON OILERS
KARL ALZNER | 2003 POY
DRAFTED: 2007 - 5TH OVERALL BY WASHINGTON CAPITALS
GILBERT BRULE | 2002 POY
DRAFTED: 2005 - 6TH OVERALL BY COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
13
ISS TOP 50 NHL PROSPECTS 01
NOLAN PATRICK BRANDON | WHL
POS: Centre DOB: Sep 19/98 H/W: 6.02.75/198
SIZE/STRENGTH.........Very Good SKATING.....................Very Good PUCK SKILLS..............Very Good SHOT...........................Very Good OFFENSIVE PLAY........Very Good
DEFENSIVE PLAY.......Very Good PHYSICAL PLAY................Good COMPETITIVENESS......Excellent HOCKEY SENSE............Excellent COMPARED TO: Ryan Getzlaf
02
GP 33
G 20
A 26
P 46
NICO HISCHIER HALIFAX | QMJHL
PIM 36
+/9
POS: Centre DOB: Jan 4/99 H/W: 6.00.75/176
SIZE/STRENGTH................Good SKATING.......................Excellent PUCK SKILLS...................... Elite SHOT...........................Very Good OFFENSIVE PLAY..........Excellent
DEFENSIVE PLAY.......Very Good PHYSICAL PLAY................Good COMPETITIVENESS......Excellent HOCKEY SENSE............Excellent COMPARED TO: Pavel Datsyuk
03
GP 57
G 38
A 48
P 86
GABE VILARDI WINDSOR | OHL
PIM 24
+/20
POS: Centre DOB: Aug 16/99 H/W: 6.03/201
SIZE/STRENGTH...........Excellent SKATING............................Good PUCK SKILLS..............Very Good SHOT...........................Very Good OFFENSIVE PLAY........Very Good
DEFENSIVE PLAY..............Good PHYSICAL PLAY................Good COMPETITIVENESS....Very Good HOCKEY SENSE............Excellent COMPARED TO: Patrice Bergeron
YEAR 16-17
07
GP 69
G 32
A 62
P 94
CASEY MITTELSTADT EDEN PRAIRIE | MN-HS
SIZE/STRENGTH................Good SKATING.....................Very Good PUCK SKILLS..............Very Good SHOT..................................Good OFFENSIVE PLAY........Very Good
PIM 36
+/31
POS: Centre DOB: Nov 22/98 H/W: 6.00.75/201
DEFENSIVE PLAY..............Good PHYSICAL PLAY................Good COMPETITIVENESS....Very Good HOCKEY SENSE..........Very Good COMPARED TO: Alexander Wennberg
DEFENSIVE PLAY.......Very Good PHYSICAL PLAY.........Very Good COMPETITIVENESS....Very Good HOCKEY SENSE..........Very Good COMPARED TO: Jason Allison
YEAR 16-17
08
GP 25
G 21
A 43
P 64
TIMOTHY LILJEGREN ROGLE | S E
+/E
POS: Defence DOB: Apr 30/99 H/W: 6.00/191
we
SIZE/STRENGTH................Good SKATING.......................Excellent PUCK SKILLS..............Very Good SHOT...........................Very Good OFFENSIVE PLAY........Very Good
PIM 8
DEFENSIVE PLAY..........Average PHYSICAL PLAY................Good COMPETITIVENESS....Very Good HOCKEY SENSE..........Very Good COMPARED TO: Justin Faulk
Very complete and versatile character forward; can play wing or centre.
Mobile, puck advancing defender with excellent offensive instincts.
YEAR 16-17
YEAR 16-17
04
GP 49
G 29
A 32
P 61
MIRO HEISKANEN HIFK HELSINKI | F E
PIM 12
+/13
POS: Defence DOB: July 18/99 H/W: 6.00/174
in
SIZE/STRENGTH................Good SKATING.....................Very Good PUCK SKILLS................Excellent SHOT...........................Very Good OFFENSIVE PLAY........Very Good
DEFENSIVE PLAY.......Very Good PHYSICAL PLAY.........Very Good COMPETITIVENESS....Very Good HOCKEY SENSE............Excellent COMPARED TO: Cam Fowler
09
GP 19
G 1
A 4
P 5
CALE MAKAR BROOKS | AJHL
SIZE/STRENGTH...Below Average SKATING............................. Elite PUCK SKILLS..............Very Good SHOT...........................Very Good OFFENSIVE PLAY........Very Good
PIM 4
+/-3
POS: Defence DOB: Oct 10/98 H/W: 5.11.25/179 DEFENSIVE PLAY..........Average PHYSICAL PLAY................Good COMPETITIVENESS....Very Good HOCKEY SENSE..........Very Good COMPARED TO: Shayne Gostisbehere
Steady two-way defenceman showing good mobility and awareness in all zones.
Mobile, puck advancing defender with excellent offensive instincts and ability to read the game.
YEAR 16-17
YEAR 16-17
05
GP 37
G 5
A 5
P 10
OWEN TIPPETT MISSISSAUGA | OHL
SIZE/STRENGTH.........Very Good SKATING.....................Very Good PUCK SKILLS.....................Good SHOT.............................Excellent OFFENSIVE PLAY........Very Good
PIM 4
+/-1
POS: Right Wing DOB: Feb 16/99 H/W: 6.01.5/202 DEFENSIVE PLAY..........Average PHYSICAL PLAY............Average COMPETITIVENESS...........Good HOCKEY SENSE..........Very Good COMPARED TO: Phil Kessel
Natural goal scorer with above average hockey sense and good anticipation skills.
YEAR 16-17
14
SIZE/STRENGTH.........Very Good SKATING.....................Very Good PUCK SKILLS..............Very Good SHOT..................................Good OFFENSIVE PLAY........Very Good
Playmaking ability to be a high-end NHL player. Creative with the puck on his stick.
Dynamic offensive forward with an engine that does not quit.
YEAR 16-17
POS: Centre DOB: Apr 1/99 H/W: 6.01.75/180
Skilled centre who possesses arsenal of offensive weapons with good speed and size.
Big strong two-way centre with high end skill and smarts.
YEAR 16-17
06
CODY GLASS PORTLAND | WHL
GP 60
G 44
A 31
P 75
PIM 36
10
GP 54
G 24
A 51
P 75
MICHAEL RASMUSSEN TRI-CITY | WHL
SIZE/STRENGTH.........Very Good SKATING.....................Very Good PUCK SKILLS..............Very Good SHOT..................................Good OFFENSIVE PLAY........Very Good
PIM 18
+/E
POS: Centre DOB: Apr 17/99 H/W: 6.05.75/215
DEFENSIVE PLAY..............Good PHYSICAL PLAY................Good COMPETITIVENESS....Very Good HOCKEY SENSE..........Very Good COMPARED TO: Nick Bjugstad
Good combination of skill, scoring ability and determination.
+/24
YEAR 16-17
GP 50
G 32
A 23
P 55
PIM 50
+/-13
11
NICK SUZUKI
POS: C
12
DOB: 12/13/1998
DOB: 1/3/1999
DOB: 5/5/1999
DOB: 12/5/1998
DOB: 11/12/1998
DOB: 7/2/1999
DOB: 5/5/1999
DOB: 10/16/1998
DOB: 7/30/1999
SHOOTS: L
SHOOTS: L
SHOOTS: R
SHOOTS: L
SHOOTS: L
HEIGHT: 6.01.75
DOB: 6/17/1999
SHOOTS: R
SHOOTS: L
SHOOTS: R
SHOOTS: L
SHOOTS: R
SHOOTS: R
MAXIME COMTOIS
POS: LW DOB: 1/8/1999
WEIGHT: 183
HEIGHT: 6.03
WEIGHT: 196
SIOUX CITY | USHL HEIGHT: 5.11.25
WEIGHT: 170
MISSISSAUGA | OHL HEIGHT: 6.05.5
WEIGHT: 206
V. FROLUNDA | SweE HEIGHT: 6.03.25
WEIGHT: 207
TIMRA | SweAl HEIGHT: 6.01.25
WEIGHT: 156
LONDON | OHL HEIGHT: 5.11.5
WEIGHT: 185
GUELPH | OHL HEIGHT: 6.05.5
WEIGHT: 196
USA U18 | NTDP HEIGHT: 6.01.25
WEIGHT: 192
KELOWNA | WHL
HENRI JOKIHARJU
POS: D
30
SHOOTS: L
CONOR TIMMINS
POS: LD DOB: 9/18/1998
29
SHOOTS: L
SHANE BOWERS
POS: C
28
ST. CLOUD STATE | NCHC
HEIGHT: 6.01
WEIGHT: 176
HV71 | SweE HEIGHT: 5.11.5
KAILER YAMAMOTO
POS: RW DOB: 9/29/1998
27
WEIGHT: 204
LIAS ANDERSSON
POS: LW DOB: 10/13/1998
26
HEIGHT: 6.01.5
KOLE LIND
POS: C
25
WEIGHT: 167
TRI-CITY | WHL
JOSHUA NORRIS
POS: C
24
HEIGHT: 6.00.5
ISAAC RATCLIFFE
POS: LW DOB: 2/15/1999
23
BRNO KOMETA HC | CzeE
ROBERT THOMAS
POS: C
22
WEIGHT: 213
ELIAS PETTERSSON
POS: C
21
SHOOTS: L
KRISTIAN VESALAINEN
POS: LW DOB: 6/1/1999
20
HEIGHT: 6.03.5
DYNAMO | KHL
NICOLAS HAGUE
POS: D
19
SHOOTS: L
EELI TOLVANEN
POS: LW DOB: 4/22/1999
18
SHOOTS: L
WEIGHT: 187
KELOWNA | WHL
KLIM KOSTIN
POS: C
17
SHOOTS: R
RYAN POEHLING
POS: C
16
HEIGHT: 5.10.75
JUUSO VALIMAKI
POS: LD DOB: 10/6/1998
15
SHOOTS: R
MARTIN NECAS
POS: RW DOB: 1/15/1999
14
SHOOTS: R
CALLAN FOOTE
POS: D
13
DOB: 8/10/1999
OWEN SOUND | OHL
SHOOTS: L
WEIGHT: 198
SPOKANE | WHL HEIGHT: 5.07.5
WEIGHT: 153
WATERLOO | USHL HEIGHT: 6.01.25
WEIGHT: 178
S.S. MARIE | OHL HEIGHT: 6.01.25
WEIGHT: 185
PORTLAND | WHL HEIGHT: 5.11.75
WEIGHT: 176
VICTORIAVILLE | QMJHL HEIGHT: 6.02.25
WEIGHT: 199
31
JARET ANDERSON-DOLAN
POS: C
32
DOB: 9/12/1999
DOB: 7/1/1999
DOB: 8/17/1999
DOB: 1/1/1999
DOB: 10/30/1998
DOB: 2/19/1999
DOB: 9/2/1999
DOB: 3/6/1999
DOB: 2/18/1999
DOB: 7/14/1999
DOB: 3/21/1999
DOB: 1/24/1999
DOB: 11/16/1998
DOB: 5/11/1999
HEIGHT: 6.01.75 WEIGHT: 192
JYP JYVASKYLA | FinE HEIGHT: 6.01
SHOOTS: R
SHOOTS: R
SHOOTS: R
SHOOTS: L
SHOOTS: L
SHOOTS: L
SHOOTS: L
SHOOTS: L
IVAN CHEKHOVICH
POS: LW DOB: 1/4/1999
SHOOTS: L
WEIGHT: 187
TIMRA | SweAl HEIGHT: 6.00
WEIGHT: 179
USA U18 | NTDP HEIGHT: 6.00.25 WEIGHT: 186
YAROSLAVL LOKO | RusJr HEIGHT: 5.10
WEIGHT: 165
HV71 | SweJE HEIGHT: 5.10
WEIGHT: 172
KINGSTON | OHL HEIGHT: 6.06.25 WEIGHT: 216
OSHAWA | OHL HEIGHT: 6.01
WEIGHT: 171
HAMILTON | OHL HEIGHT: 6.02.75 WEIGHT: 180
OWEN SOUND | OHL HEIGHT: 5.11.75 WEIGHT: 202
HERMANTOWN | MN-HS HEIGHT: 6.03
WEIGHT:
200
SIOUX FALLS | USHL HEIGHT: 6.01.75 WEIGHT: 189
SARNIA | OHL HEIGHT: 6.03.5 WEIGHT: 202
LUKAS ELVENES
POS: RW DOB: 8/18/1999
50
SHOOTS: L
WEIGHT: 172
KINGSTON | OHL
ADAM RUZICKA
POS: C
49
SHOOTS: L
KASPER KOTKANSALO
POS: D
48
SHOOTS: L
DYLAN SAMBERG
POS: D
47
SHOOTS: L
MARKUS PHILLIPS
POS: D
46
HEIGHT: 6.01
MACKENZIE ENTWISTLE
POS: C
45
SHOOTS: L
WEIGHT: 160
BALASHIKHA | RusS
JACK STUDNICKA
POS: C
44
HEIGHT: 6.02
EEMELI RASANEN
POS: D
43
CHARLOTTETOWN | QMJHL
ERIK BRANNSTROM
POS: D
42
SHOOTS: L
KIRILL SLEPETS
POS: LW DOB: 4/6/1999
41
HEIGHT: 6.00.75 WEIGHT: 190
GRANT MISMASH
POS: C
40
SHOOTS: L
WEIGHT: 162
BRANDON | WHL
JESPER BOQVIST
POS: C
39
SHOOTS: L
URHO VAAKANAINEN
POS: D
38
HEIGHT: 6.01
JASON ROBERTSON
POS: RW DOB: 7/22/1999
37
SHOOTS: R
ALEXEY LIPANOV
POS: C
36
DOB: 6/14/1999
PIERRE-OLIVIER JOSEPH
POS: D
35
SHOOTS: L
WEIGHT: 188
LONDON | OHL
STELIO MATTHEOS
POS: C
34
HEIGHT: 5.11
ALEX FORMENTON
POS: LW DOB: 9/13/1999
33
SHOOTS: L
SPOKANE | WHL
ROGLE | SweJE HEIGHT: 6.00.5 WEIGHT: 173
BAIE-COMEAU | QMJHL HEIGHT: 5.10
WEIGHT: 177
15
STORY RYAN MCCRACKEN
1
NOLAN PATRICK [C] BRANDON WHEAT KINGS
THIS YEAR MAY NOT PRESENT THE MOST STAR-STUDDED NHL DRAFT CLASS IN RECENT MEMORY, BUT WITH A LEGITIMATE ARGUMENT TO BE MADE BETWEEN THE TOP TWO PROSPECTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, IT’S SURE TO PROVIDE SOME ADDED EXCITEMENT WHEN THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS TAKE THE PODIUM IN CHICAGO ON JUNE 23. While both Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier boast a great deal of skill and awareness, one thing sets Patrick apart from the pack — his size. At 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds, the Brandon Wheat Kings centre stands two inches taller than Hischier with 22 extra pounds to throw around. While he’s been facing a handful of injuries of late, Patrick’s size and his ability to use it can make a world of difference at the NHL level. While the Wheaties captain had his season cut in half with injuries, he started drawing draft interest well before the puck dropped in September. Patrick has been a point-per-game player ever since joining the league as a 16-year-old in 2014-15, netting 56 points in 55 games as a rookie then nearly doubling his numbers as a sophomore with 41 goals and 61 assists in a full 72-game campaign. The Winnipeg product truly found the national radar midway through that sophomore year by scoring in 12 consecutive games, totaling 18 goals in the span before finally being held off the scoresheet in a 4-3 loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers. He answered with five points in his next game. But Patrick is more than a consistent presence in the regular season — he’s a big-game performer, and he proved it in the postseason. A year after falling to the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL championship, Patrick put the Wheaties on his back and earned the title of playoff MVP — the first 17-year-old to do so since Tyler Johnson of the Spokane Chiefs in 2008 — with a staggering 13 goals and 17 assists and a plus-19 rating en route to the Ed Chynoweth Cup. While he only managed to lace them up for 33 games due to various injuries this season, Patrick’s game average didn’t take much of a hit, slipping from last year’s 1.42 to 1.39 after gathering 20 goals and 26 assists. The biggest obstacle facing Patrick at this year’s draft is his injury situation, and his recent inactivity as a result. While he’s still ranked No. 1 across the board, Patrick told the media at the NHL scouting combine that he’s been dealing with a pair of sports hernias. The injuries forced Patrick to the shelf from early October to January — leaving him off Canada’s world junior roster. While he returned for a prolific start to 2017, he was unable to compete for Brandon in the playoffs and was forced to watch them get swept by the Tigers. It wouldn’t be out of the question to see New Jersey gamble on Hischier with the No. 1 pick, but there’s no disputing Patrick’s pedigree, and with an NHL-ready frame it should come as no surprise to see him sporting New Jersey Devils colours on June 23.
16
TIM SMITH/BRANDON SUN
CODY GLASS [C]
PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS Portland Winterhawks centre Cody Glass should find himself walking to the stage within the first 10 picks of the draft after a staggering increase in offensive production this season. After collecting 27 points in 2015-16, Glass nearly cracked triple digits in Portland this year — totaling 94 points with 32 goals and 62 assists. The 6-foot-2, 178-pound two-way forward is penciled in at No. 6 by International Scouting Services.
12
BRYAN HEIM/ PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS
STEALING FIRST
6
CAL FOOTE [D]
KELOWNA ROCKETS North of the border, Kelowna Rockets defenceman Cal Foote will look to follow the path of his father, Colorado Avalanche alumnus Adam Foote as a first-round NHL draft pick. Ranked 12th overall by ISS, the 18-year-old Colorado product is even pegged to go higher than his dad — who went 22nd overall to the Quebec Nordiques in 1989. Foote has provided a steady presence on Kelowna’s blue line for each of the past two seasons, capped off with a plus-39 rating and 57 points in 71 games this year.
24
KOLE LIND [C]
26
KAILER YAMAMOTO [RW]
KELOWNA ROCKETS Foote’s teammate Kole Lind is also expected to go in the opening round of the draft. The Shaunavon, Sask. product more than doubled his point production with the Rockets this season, netting 87 points in 70 games before adding 12 in the playoffs to earn himself a No. 24 ranking from ISS.
SPOKANE CHIEFS Heading back to the U.S. Division, Spokane Chiefs Kailer Yamamoto and Jaret Anderson-Dolan have earned their way onto the international radar despite missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Yamamoto came one point shy of joining the century club this season, collecting 42 goals and 57 assists for 99 points in just 65 games to earn the No. 26 ranking from ISS. Spokane’s hometown hero, Yamamoto has proven he can compete with the best major junior hockey has to offer despite a 5-foot-8, 153-pound frame.
31
JARET ANDERSON-DOLAN [C]
SPOKANE CHIEFS Anderson-Dolan sits five spots behind his Chiefs teammate at 31st overall — putting him just inside this year’s first round with the addition of the Vegas Golden Knights. The former HockeyNow Player of the Year surpassed a point-per-game average with 76 in 72 contests this season. While he lacks in offensive production compared to Yamamoto he makes up for it in size at 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds.
COURTESY SPOKANE CHIEFS
CLOSE SECOND
MAXIME COMTOIS [LW]
VICTORIAVILLE TIGRES Hishier will be selected early, possibly number one overall and then, that could be it for the ‘Q’ until late in the first round when Comtois from the is pencilled in at 30th overall by ISS Hockey. In their mock draft, the 6’2’’, 199 pound forward crept up eight picks and was selected 22nd by the Edmonton Oilers. A year ago he was being projected in the Top Ten. Comtois plays a very projectable pro style game; with good size, skill and hockey sense. DARRELL THERIAULT
34
STORY MIKE BEASLEY
PIERRE-OLIVIER JOSEPH [D]
CHARLOTTETOWN ISLANDERS Joseph could slip into the first round because of his untapped potential. The younger brother of Saint John Sea Dogs F and Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick Mathieu Joseph is ranked 34th but is an intriguing prospect.
At 6’2 and 160 pounds, Joseph needs to fill out but he is a mobile defender and no fun to play against. He plays a twoway game, but indications are that he will develop into more of a shutdown physical defensive defender at the next level.
50
IVAN CHEKHOVICH [LW]
BAIE-COMEAU DRAKKAR Chekhovich will enter the draft ranked #50 but may get drafted earlier after scoring 26 times in his first season in the QMJHL. He’s very quick and accelerates to top speed faster than most of his draft peers. Chekhovich is a finesse player through and through, and extremely dangerous around the net. Not a big body at 5’10” and 177 pounds, but he is arguably the most dynamic skater in the QMJHL besides Nico Hischier.
77
IVAN KOSORENKOV [RW]
VICTORIAVILLE TIGRES The six feet, 189 pound right winger scored 34 times and had 63 points for Victo playing in all 68 games. Kosorenkov picked up his game in the second half of the year which raised his draft stock.
88
LHJMQ MÉDIA
He possesses quick feet and is not shy to create space for himself. Kosorenkov is extremely effective at getting into position offensively which resulted in 25 power play points and six game winners.
ANTOINE MORAND [C]
ACADIE-BATHURST TITAN Morand will remind you of NHL players like Johnny Gaudreau, Brad Marchand and Tyler Johnson. Not big in stature at 5’9” but loaded with talent, he had 74 points including 28 goals last season. Morand is creative and skilled, what he lacks in size, he makes up for in smarts and competitiveness with high end mobility and skating skills. The NHL is now trending towards looking at smaller, skilled players. Morand is definitely one who could make a big impact in today’s game.
2
NICO HISCHIER [C] HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS
ONE THING IS FOR SURE AT THIS YEAR’S NHL ENTRY DRAFT. NICO HISCHIER WON’T BE WAITING A LONG TIME TO HEAR HIS NAME CALLED BY A BIG LEAGUE TEAM. The native of Naters, Switzerland is expected to be a top three selection and will best fifth overall, the highest draft record for a Swiss player, held by Nino Niederreiter (2010, Minnesota Wild). International Scouting Services (ISS) has the Halifax Mooseheads centre ranked No. 2 overall for the 2017 Draft. A top three pick is a certainty – but don’t jump out of your chair if the kid is picked first overall. Let’s be honest, Hischier has all the credentials to be worthy of the title after lighting up the QMJHL in his first season in North America. The 6’1”, 179 pound pivot picked up 38 goals and 48 assists for 86 points in 57 games and finished +20. Hischier was also impressive at the international level as a member of the Swiss National Junior during the 2017 IIHF U20 championships where he was arguably the story of the tournament. The Swiss hockey history maker led his country in points (7) and to a berth in the quarterfinals against the United States. For his efforts during the season in Halifax, Hischier was the recipient of the QMJHL’s Michel Bergeron Trophy as Offensive Rookie of the Year. He also won the Mike Bossy Trophy as the Best Professional Prospect and took his spot at centre on the league’s All-Rookie team. The accolades for Hischier did not stop there as he took home the CCM Rookie of the Year Award at the CHL Awards ceremony which was held during the 2017 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Windsor. Hischier was also nominated for the Sherwin-Williams Top Prospect Award but finished second to Brandon Wheat Kings F Nolan Patrick who sits atop the 2017 ISS rankings. When reading the ISS rankings and ratings, Hischier’s name pops up everywhere. They have the slick, playmaking centre ranked No.1 in Stickhandling, Leadership and as a 3 vs. 3 Specialist. The same ratings list the 18-year-old No. 2 in Skating and Puck Protection. He’s listed third in prospect scoring despite putting up 87 points in just 57 games. The offensively challenged New Jersey Devils have the first pick and could certainly use a player with Hishier’s tool box. Devils forwards Kyle Palmieri and Taylor Hall led their team in scoring with 53 points and were one of three 20goal scorers along with Adam Henrique so Hischier would look exceptional sporting the New Jersey colours. If the Devils go another route then Philadelphia could be Hischier’s NHL destination. If the Flyers call Hishier’s name then the organization will get the player with the most offensive upside of any player available, plus elite hockey sense, puck skills and a motor that never stops.
17
LHJMQ MÉDIA
30
TERRY WILSON/OHL IMAGES
3
GABE VILARDI [C] WINDSOR SPITFIRES
GABRIEL VILARDI CHECKS OFF NEARLY EVERY BOX OF WHAT A TEAM WOULD WANT FROM AN NHL PROSPECT. His 6-foot-2, 193-pound frame gives him a great foundation to work with when it comes to moulding an NHL body and then there’s all the tangibles he possesses that have made him an elite two-way forward with the Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires. What he brings to the table is one of the best sets of hands up for grabs in the draft, high-end vision, playmaking ability and the drive to be the best. You’ll also see a player who shows composure and maturity beyond his years, as was the case when he helped guide the Spits to the Memorial Cup. Despite being eliminated in the first round of the OHL playoffs, Windsor made it through to the Memorial Cup as tournament hosts and put on a perfect 4-0 record. Vilardi was one of Windsor’s top point producers with seven assists, six of which were recorded in the last two games. That earned him a spot on the tournament all-star team. Vilardi’s been known to make his teammates better and has grown into one of the better puck possession forwards in the OHL. He was considered the best draft prospect in the league entering the season, and while Owen Tippett from the Mississauga Steelheads has challenged that claim at times, Vilardi is seen as more of a complete player and remains a surefire top-5 candidate. The one knock most scouts have on Vilardi is his skating, but his hockey sense and playmaking ability have put him in a position where he’s been able to use those tools to compensate for any shortfalls. Vilardi had a tough start to the season when he missed a few weeks due to a knee injury suffered shortly before he was expected to lead Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Another lengthy stint out of the line up followed in November when he went through an appendectomy. Still, despite missing 19 games due to those absences, he recorded more points than anyone in a Spitfires jersey with 61 (29 goals and 32 assists). That came after a strong rookie season in which he wasted no time getting accustomed to the league, finishing the year with 38 points (17 goals and 21 assists). The jury’s still out on whether or not Vilardi will be ready for the jump to the NHL next year, but most would think he’d get every opportunity, even if that means starting the year in the NHL and getting sent back to junior before reaching nine games.
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Still, despite being a bit under six feet, he has quickly blossomed into one of the most dynamic forwards in the OHL. Scoring races are often dominated by veteran players, but he finished fifth in the OHL with 96 points, including 45 goals.
18
NIC HAGUE [D]
MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS At 6-foot-6, Hague easily stands out in a crowd. His height gives him an incredible reach to work with and he moves well for a player his size as he exits his zone efficiently in most cases. Then of course there’s his booming shot that led to an impressive 18 goals and 46 points this season. Hague is working on his gap control as well so he can be ready for the next level.
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TERRY WILSON/ OHL IMAGES
STORY IAIN COLPITTS
OWEN SOUND ATTACK Every year, there’s a number of players that scouts say if they were a few inches taller and 10-15 pounds heavier, they’d go much higher in the draft. Suzuki is one of those players.
ROBERT THOMAS [C]
LONDON KNIGHTS If you’re looking for a defence-first minded centre, look no further than Thomas. He projects well as a two-way forward, the kind of player who can play a top-9 role and do the little, under-appreciated things it takes to win games. His 66 points this season were a big improvement from the 15 he recorded while he was overshadowed by the stars who led the Knights to the 2016 Memorial Cup.
22
ISAAC RATCLIFFE [LW]
36
JASON ROBERTSON [LW]
GUELPH STORM Ratcliffe is a prototypical power forward with his 6-foot-6, 203-pound frame. Most scouts see him as a project, although his scoring touch and great hands combined with his size make him a player to watch in the mid to late picks of the first round. On a struggling Storm team, he was one of the most productive players, finishing the year with 26 goals and 54 points.
KINGSTON FRONTENACS It’s scary to think of how the Frontenacs would have done without Jason Robertson this season. Their 179 goals for were a league low, but Robertson accounted for 42 of them as part of his 81-point season.
Kingston finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and made it to the second round of the playoffs while Robertson emerged as an elite sniper in the league. His skating is a concern, but fixable.
AARON BELL/ OHL IMAGES
OWNING THIRD
11
NICK SUZUKI [C]
ISS DRAFT RANKINGS: GOALIES 1
UKKO-PEKKA LUUKKONEN
DOB: 3/9/1999
2
4
6
13
14
18
HT: 6.05
HT: 6.00.75
WT: 158
CORPUS CHRISTI | NAHL
HAND: L
HT: 6.03
WT: 172
GREEN BAY | USHL
HAND: L
HAND: L
HT: 6.01.5
WT: 181
S.S. MARIE | OHL HT: 6.00.25
WT: 185
UFA TOLPAR | RusJr
HAND: L
HT: 6.03
HAND: R
HT: 6.02
WT: 174
SAINT JOHN | QMJHL WT: 201 VICTORIA | WHL
HAND: L
HT: 6.00.25
WT: 171 HV71 | SweJE
HAND: L
HT: 5.11.5
WT: 154
FARJESTAD | SweJE
HAND: L
HT: 6.02.5
WT: 183
ST. PETERSBURG DYNAMO | RusJr
HAND: L
HAND: L
DYLAN ST. CYR
DOB: 5/23/1999
WT: 188
WT: 180
HT: 6.02
WT: 187 NITRA | SvkJr
JURAJ SKLENAR
DOB: 7/13/1999
20
HT: 6.02.5
SUDBURY | OHL
HAND: L
KIRILL USTIMENKO
DOB: 1/29/1999
19
HAND: L
OLLE ERIKSSON EK
DOB: 6/22/1999
WT: 177
WT: 196
ADAM AHMAN
DOB: 7/31/1999
17
HT: 6.00
GRIFFEN OUTHOUSE
DOB: 3/13/1998
16
HT: 6.02.75
MUSKEGON | USHL
ALEX D'ORIO
DOB: 4/28/1999
15
HAND: L
DANILL TARASOV
DOB: 3/27/1999
WT: 174
GREEN BAY | USHL
JOSEPH RAAYMAKERS
DOB: 3/17/1998
WT: 209
WINDSOR | OHL
HAND: L
DAVID HRENAK
DOB: 5/5/1998
12
HAND: L
TOMAS VOMACKA
DOB: 5/2/1999
11
HT: 6.03.25
JAKE MCGRATH
DOB: 1/7/1999
10
HT: 6.03.5
LINCOLN | USHL
KEITH PETRUZZELLI
DOB: 2/9/1999
9
HAND: L
HAND: L
STORY RYAN MCCRACKEN
WT: 203
PRINCE ALBERT | WHL
MAKSIM ZHUKOV
DOB: 7/22/1999
8
HAND: L
MICHAEL DIPIETRO
DOB: 6/9/1999
7
HT: 6.04
CAYDEN PRIMEAU
DOB: 8/11/1999
THE YEAR OF THE GOALIE?
WT: 196
LETHBRIDGE | WHL
IAN SCOTT
DOB: 1/11/1999
5
HAND: L
STUART SKINNER
DOB: 11/1/1998
HT: 6.04.5
BOSTON UNIVERSITY | H.E.
JAKE OETTINGER
DOB: 12/18/1998
3
HAND: L
HPK HAMEENLINNA | FinJrA
HT: 6.02
WT: 172 USA U18 | NTDP
HT: 5.07.75
WT: 163
NOLAN PATRICK AND NICO HISCHIER ARE SOAKING UP THE SPOTLIGHT HEADING INTO THE 2017 NHL ENTRY DRAFT, BUT WITH SO MUCH TALENT BETWEEN THE PIPES UP FOR GRABS, THIS COULD END UP BEING REMEMBERED AS THE YEAR OF THE GOALTENDER. Finnish prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the only goaltender projected to be taken in the first round by International Scouting Services, but every one of this year’s top 15 puckstoppers boasts a strong case for a future in the NHL. Straight from the Scandinavian goaltender factory known as Finland, Luukkonen is coming off a tremendous year with the Junior A SM-Liiga’s Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho, or HPK. The 6-foot-5, 196-pound netminder posted a league-best 1.78 goals against average with a .917 save percentage before backing HPK to the championship with a consistent effort through the postseason. In nine games en route to the title, Luukkonen produced a .915 save percentage with another league best 2.01 goals against average. The Espoo product also backed his country to gold at the 2017 IIHF world under-18 championship. Following behind Luukkonen will likely be Boston University netminder Jake Oettinger. The Lakeville, Minn. product opted out of the Western Hockey League to pursue an NCAA career and a place with the US national team’s development program, and it seems to have paid off. The 6-foot-4, 203-pound Oettinger posted a 2.11 goals against average and a staggering .927 save percentage in his 35 games as a freshman this season, enough to earn him a nod on the NCAA Hockey East all-rookie team as well as the second all-star team. The Canadian Hockey League gets into the mix at No. 3 with another standout in Lethbridge Hurricanes netminder Stuart Skinner. The Edmonton product has been a go-to guy for the Hurricanes ever since making the roster as a 16-year-old in 2014-15. While his GAA from last summer isn’t too pretty at 3.26, the ’Canes tend to play a run-and-gun style of hockey that left Skinner out to dry on a number of occasions this year. The 6-foot-5, 196-pound Skinner still managed to post a .905 save percentage with a 34-18-3-2 record before helping his team to within two wins of the WHL final this postseason. Fellow WHLer Ian Scott keeps the ball rolling after another strong year on the struggling Prince Albert Raiders. Scott’s 12-31-3-0 record this year is in no way reflective of his skills between the pipes. The 6-foot-4, 169-pound Calgarian boasts great rebound control with a flashy glove and should provide an NHL team with some serious starting potential in the coming years. While he only managed a 3.69 goals against average and an .895 save percentage in Prince Albert this season, Scott represented his league at the CHL top prospects game and his country at the IIHF under-18 world championship. Over in Ontario Hockey League, Windsor Spitfires goaltender Michael DiPietro has built a legitimate case for himself with a Memorial Cup title. DiPietro was near unbeatable at the Memorial Cup, finishing his four wins with a 2.00 goals against average and a .932 save percentage in his hometown of Windsor. The 6-foot, 196-pound goaltender boasts ridiculous speed in the crease and that cool, calm and collected nature NHL teams tend to swoon over, leaving him as one of the more NHL-ready netminders at this year’s draft. New Jersey’s Cayden Primeau is another potential top five netminder up for grabs. Primeau posted a 3.16 goals against average and an .895 save percentage with the United States Hockey League’s Lincoln Stars. The 6-foot-3, 179-pound goaltender boasts a strong hockey pedigree as well, as he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father, NHL alumnus Keith Primeau. Other notables in the top 15 include USHL netminders Keith Petruzzelli, of the Muskegon Lumberjacks, and Zhukov Maksim, of the Green Bay Gamblers and Tomas Vomacka out of the North American Hockey League’s Corpus Christi Ice Rays — all of whom posted sub-three goals against averages and plus-900 save percentages with their respective squads this season. It may take a while for these names to reach households on Hockey Night in Canada, but on June 23 and 24 at Chicago’s United Centre, many will take a big step in the right direction.
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UKKO-PEKKA LUUKKONEN [G] HPK HAMEENLINNA
HPK HAMEENLINNA PHOTO
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STORY SAM LASKARIS
EMILY DUNCAN/EM ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY
9
CALE MAKAR [D] BROOKS BANDITS
THOUGH HE HAS A COUPLE OF SEASONS OF JUNIOR ELIGIBILITY REMAINING, THE TIME HAS COME FOR CALE MAKAR TO MOVE ON. Makar, an 18-year-old defenceman, has spent the past two seasons starring with the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits. His accomplishments include being named the most valuable player in the Canadian Junior Hockey League (comprised of 10 Junior A leagues from across the country) for the 2016-17 campaign. Makar was also selected as the MVP at the national RBC Cup tournament in each of the past two seasons. Makar is expected to commence his NCAA career with the UMass Amherst Minutemen this fall. But prior to that, he’ll get a glimpse into his future as he is set to be an early first-round selection at the National Hockey League’s Entry Draft, set for June 23-24 in Chicago. International Scouting Services (ISS) Hockey has Makar listed as the ninth best skater available in the draft. Jameson Ewasiuk, an ISS Hockey scout, believes Makar has peaked in junior hockey. “It's obvious that he is too good for this level of competition,” Ewasiuk wrote of Makar in the ISS Hockey Draft Guide. “[He is] dynamic offensively and he exploits space incredibly.” Dennis MacInnis, the ISS Hockey Director of Scouting, is also rather impressed with Makar’s ability. “Controls the play when he has the puck on his stick, and has the ability to carry the puck into the zone,” he is quoted as saying of Makar. “Beautiful skater with huge explosiveness and great edge use. This is a special player in almost every area of the game.” Another ISS Hockey scout, Brent Parker, also speaks highly of Makar but adds there is still room for improvement in his game. Parker wrote: “Dynamic offensive player who plays with energy and passion. Wants the puck on his stick when game is in the balance. Great skater who has good balance and agility. Needs to work on his defensive zone coverage as he chases the puck at times. Top end player with loads of upside.” Besides its ranking and assessments of players, the ISS Hockey Draft Guide also includes lists of its Best and Worst players in various categories. Five players are listed in each category. Makar is atop the lists in two of those categories, Best Skater and Best Offensive Defenceman. Makar was an impact player in both of his seasons with the Bandits. During his rookie campaign, he averaged more than a point per game, racking up 55 points, including 10 goals, in 54 regular season outings. He then added 14 points (3G, 11A) in 13 playoff outings as he led Brooks to an AJHL title. Makar also had seven points in five games for the Bandits at the 2016 RBC Cup tournament, which was hosted by the AJHL’s Lloydminster Bobcats. Brooks was eliminated from that event following a semifinal loss. Makar also led the Brooks club to another AJHL title this season. For starters, he accumulated 75 points, including 24 goals, in 54 regular season matches. And then he earned 16 points in 13 postseason contests. Makar then led the Bandits to another RBC Cup appearance this past month, at the national tournament held in Cobourg, Ont. He had eight points in five games. The Bandits sat out Makar and some other key players in their final round-robin match as they had already clinched a spot in the tournament semifinals. Makar and his teammates made it a step further than they did a year ago at the RBC Cup. But they lost this year’s championship final 3-2 in overtime to the host Cobourg Cougars.
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It’s a safe bet that Brooks Bandits’ star defenceman Cale Makar will be the first player from the Canadian Junior Hockey League chosen in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. Makar is expected to be an early first-round pick – possibly one of the first 10 players chosen – at the June 23-24 draft, which will be staged in Chicago. Makar, who starred the past two years with the Bandits, members of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, is ranked as the ninth best skater available by The International Scouting Services (ISS) Hockey in its draft guide. But several other players from the Junior A leagues that make up the CJHL can also expect to hear their names called at the draft. Besides Makar, ISS Hockey has six other CJHL players ranked in its guide, which includes 180 skaters and 20 goaltenders. After Makar, another AJHL player, defenceman Ian Mitchell from the Spruce Grove Saints, is the next higherst CJHL player ranked by ISS Hockey. Mitchell, who has spent the past two seasons with Spruce Grove, is listed as the 79th best skater available. Meanwhile, defenceman Cameron Crotty of the Brockville Braves, is one of two Central Canada Hockey League players in the final ISS Hockey rankings. Crotty is ranked 91st. The other ranked player from the CCHL is Bobby Dow, a right winger with the Kemptville 73’s, who is ranked 171st. And there are also three players from the Ontario Junior Hockey League that are included in the ISS Hockey rankings. They are Oakville Blades’ teammates Matthew Kellenberger and Bryce Misley and Philip Lagunov of the Burlington Cougars. Kellenberger, a defenceman, is ranked 165th while Misley, a centre, is listed at the 167th spot. Lagunov, a centre, is not too far behind the pair of Blades as he is ranked 169th.
165 MATTHEW KELLENBERGER [D] BRYCE MISLEY [C] 167 OAKVILLE BLADES
OAKVILLE BLADES
TIM BATES/OJHL IMAGES
ALL EYES ON MAKAR
OTHER CJHL PROSPECTS TO WATCH
NEXT LEVEL
PENS SET RECORD FOR MOST FORMER NCAA PLAYERS ON CUP ROSTER A year ago, the Pens tied the record for players trained at the college level with 13. That tied for most with the Cup-winning New Jersey Devils in 1995. Not only did the NCAA alumni appear in the final, but a number of them were key contributors in the Penguins back-to-back championships led by rookie forward Jake Guentzel. After three seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks and just 44 games in the minors, Guentzel found himself on the same line as Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sidney Crosby after scoring 16 times and putting up 33 points in 40 league games down the stretch. Showing his regular season scoring exploits were no fluke, Guentzel, who was selected by Pittsburgh (3rd round, 77th overall) at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, finished fourth in team scoring with 21 points (an NHL rookie record) while leading the playoffs in goals with 13 and game winning markers with five. The Penguins scored 19 goals against the Preds in the final with 14 of those tallies coming off the sticks of NCAA alumni. In the series clinching 2-0 victory over the Predators in Nashville, five of the players hitting the scoresheet were former student-athletes. Justin Schultz (Wisconsin Badgers) and Chris Kunitz (Ferris State Bulldogs) assisted on the winning goal by Patric Hornquist while Carl Hagelin (Michigan Wolverines), on an assist from Brian Dumoulin (Boston College Eagles), iced it with an empty netter. Westbank, B.C. native Schultz, who took over the leadership role on the back end after all-star Kris Letang missed the playoffs due to neck surgery, finished fourth in scoring with 13 points (4G, 9A). Phil Kessel (Minnesota Golden Gophers), who was the top point producer in the Pens’ first run to the Cup in 2016, placed third in scoring this time around with 23 points (8G, 15A) behind only Evgeni Malkin (28 points) and Crosby (27 points). The other NCAA alumni on the squad included Josh Archibald (Omaha), Nick Bonino (Boston University Terriers), Ian Cole (Notre Dame Fighting Irish), Matt Cullen (St. Cloud State Huskies), Ron Hainsey (UMass Lowell River Hawks), Carter Rowney (North Dakota Fighting Hawks), Chad Ruhwedel (UMass Lowell), Bryan Rust (Notre Dame), Conor Sheary (Massachusetts Minutemen) and Scott Wilson (UMass Lowell). The victory also marked the fourth time Kunitz has hoisted the Cup, including three with the Penguins.
WITH NO DOMINANT PLAYER AS A CONSENSUS NO. 1 AND A FIELD WHICH MANY CONSIDER WEAK ON THE BACK END, A CANADIAN DEFENCEMAN HEADED TO AN NCAA DIVISION 1 PROGRAM THIS FALL IS RATED AS ONE OF THE TOP PROSPECTS IN THE FINAL RANKINGS OF CANDIDATES RELEASED BY THE INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING SERVICE (ISS). Calgary, Alta. native Cale Makar was the top player in the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) in 2016-17 and is ranked ninth overall among all skaters by ISS and no doubt will hear his name called at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Sweden's Timothy Liljegren at No. 8 is the only rearguard ranked higher. Makar, who is committed to the University of Massachusetts Minutemen for next season, had a career year with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) in 2016-17. He had 24 goals and 75 points during the regular season, was named CJHL player-of-the-year and put the icing on the cake by being named MVP and top defenceman at the national championships (RBC Cup) for the second consecutive season. The ISS scouting report on Makar states: A high octane dynamic skater with high IQ and a willingness to jump into the play at any time. Tremendous shot that seems to surprise goalies and get on them very quickly. Has developed some bad habits playing against weaker competition and he tries to do too much at times. Needs to bulk up and add strength. Will be a very good college player with pro potential. Another NCAA-bound player could also hear his name called among the first 10 called in Chicago. Centre iceman Casey Mittelstadt, who played in both the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the Green Bay Gamblers and then returned to play high school hockey at Eden Prairie High School in Minneapolis last season, is ranked seventh overall among skaters by ISS. Mittelstadt, who has committed to the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers for 2017-18, was the only high school player on the U.S. Under-18 national team which captured bronze at the world championships in April. He finished with four goals and seven helpers in seven games at that event. When it comes to current NCAA performers, forward Ryan Poehling of the St. Cloud State Huskies is the top ranked skater at No. 15 while goaltender Jake Oettinger of the Boston University Terriers is the top rated North American puck-stopper, second only to Finland's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. An outstanding two-way player and excellent playmaker, Poehling had 13 points (7G, 6A) in 35 games as a Huskies freshman last season. Oettinger, at six-foot-four and 205 pounds, has the size most NHL teams look for in a goaltender. He came through the U.S. National Team program, playing for the Under-18 squad in 2015-16 and the Under-17 team in 2014-15. As a freshman at BU last season, Oettinger appeared in 35 games with a record of 21-11-3, .927 save percentage and 2.11 goals-against-average as the No. 1 player between the pipes for the Terriers. Poehling and Oettinger, along with Michigan Wolverines defenceman Luke Martin (ranked 51st overall by ISS), were the only three current student-athletes invited to the recent NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo. Two other Canadians, who are headed to Boston University this fall, were also recognized in the ISS rankings. Halifax, N.S. native Shane Bowers was ranked 27th among all skaters while Cameron Crotty from Greely, Ont. came in at 91. Bowers, who has played for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL over the past two seasons, was a member of the Canadian Under-18 squad in 2016-17 and also took part in the USHL Prospects game. He had 51 points (22G, 29A) in 60 games with the Black Hawks this past season and has tallied 84 points in 116 games over the past two campaigns. Crotty is heading to Boston after two seasons with the Brockville Braves of the Canadian Central Hockey League (CCHL). Considered an offensive defenceman with good playmaking skills, Crotty played in 98 games for the Braves and compiled 31 points. Two other Canadians who are NCAA bound in 2017-18, King City, Ont. native Mario Ferraro of the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers (Massachusetts Minutemen) and Red Deer, Alta. native Kale Howarth of the British Columbia Hockey League's Trail Smoke Eaters (Connecticut Huskies), attended the recent combine, but are considered dark horses heading into the draft.
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JAKE OETTINGER [G] BOSTON UNIVERSITY
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BU ATHLETICS
When the Pittsburgh Penguins captured their second straight Stanley Cup, they also set a record for the most former NCAA Division 1 players appearing in the championship final with 15 getting to hoist the precious mug in Nashville.
STORY RANDY LUCENTI
TOURNAMENT CALENDAR
JUNE 2017 NASHVILLE, TN | June 23 - 25 Nashville Weekend Hockey Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Juvenile, Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels, Senior. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | June 23 - 25 ATLANTIC CITY CUP. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: goals@chehockey.com or www.chehockey.com OTTAWA, OM | June 30 - July 2 7th Annual Canada Day Cup. Male & Female. Divisions: Initiation, Novice, Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam. Levels: AAA. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com
JULY 2017 TORONTO, ON | July 7 - 9 YOUTH CLASSIC. Male & Female. Divisions: Initiation, Novice, Tyke, Minor Atom,
Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Midget, Major Midget, Juvenile. Levels: AAA, AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: gfrank@icesports.com or ccthockey.com ALLISTON, BRADFORD, NEWMARKET ON | July 14 - 16 Weekend Hockey Summer Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Novice, Tyke, Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Midget, Major Midget, Juvenile, Squirt. Levels: AAA, AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or weekendhockey.com OSHAWA, ON | July 14 - 16 PUCK & BALL CHALLENGE. Male & Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: aboudreau@icesports.com or ccthockey.com NIAGARA FALLS, ON | July 14 - 16 NIAGARA FALLS CHALLENGE II. Male & Female. Divisions: Initiation, Novice, Tyke, Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Midget, Major Midget, Juvenile.
Levels: AAA, AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: gfrank@icesports.com or ccthockey.com WEST KELOWNA BC | July 21 - 23 GRINDSTONE AWARD WOMEN’S CHARITY TOURNMANET. Female. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: grindstoneaward@gmail.com or grindstoneaward.com TORONTO, ON | July 28 - 30 3 ON 3 NATIONALS. Male & Female. Divisions: Initiation, Novice, Tyke, Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Midget, Major Midget, Juvenile. Levels: AAA, AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: gfrank@icesports.com or ccthockey.com
AUGUST 2017 TORONTO, ON | Aug. 4 - 6 KING OF THE RINGS I. Male. Divisions: Initiation, Novice, Tyke, Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Midget, Major Midget, Juvenile. Levels: AAA, AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: gfrank@icesports.com or ccthockey.com
ASTON, PA | Aug. 11 - 13 OneHockey 2017 12th Pennsylvania Summer Challenge. Male. Divisions: Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Midget, Major Midget, Squirt. Levels: AAA, AA. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com ALLISTON, BRADFORD, NEWMARKET ON | Aug. 11 - 13 Weekend Hockey Summer Tournament. Male & Female. Divisions: Novice, Tyke, Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Midget, Major Midget, Juvenile, Squirt. Levels: AAA, AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: info@weekendhockey.com or eekendhockey.com TORONTO, ON | Aug. 11 - 13 KING OF THE RINGS II. Male. Divisions: Initiation, Novice, Tyke, Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Midget, Major Midget, Juvenile. Levels: AAA, AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: gfrank@icesports.com or ccthockey.com TORONTO, ON | Aug. 11 - 13 QUEEN OF THE RINGS. Female. Divisions: Initiation, Novice, Tyke, Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Midget, Major Midget, Juvenile. Levels: AAA, AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: gfrank@icesports.com or ccthockey.com TORONTO, ON | Aug. 18 - 20 TORONTO PRE-SEASON BLAST. Male & Female. Divisions: Initiation, Novice, Tyke, Minor Atom, Atom, Minor Peewee, Peewee, Minor Bantam, Bantam, Minor Midget, Midget, Major Midget, Juvenile. Levels: AAA, AA, A, B, Selects. Contact: gfrank@icesports.com or ccthockey.com MONTREAL, QC | Aug. 25 - 26 MONTREAL SUMMER GETAWAY. Male. Divisions: Adult Rec. Levels: All Levels. Contact: aboudreau@icesports.com or ccthockey.com
SEPTEMBER 2017 BREWSTER, NY | Sept. 1 - 4 ONEHOCKEY NEW YORK ONEHOCKEY/ WESTCHESTER EXPRESS/ NY APPLECORE LABOR DAY INVITE. Male. Divisions: Peewee, Bantam, Squirt. Levels: AAA, AA, A. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com WAKE FOREST, NC | Sept. 1 - 4 ONEHOCKEY RALEIGH NC ONEHOCKEY/ CAROLINA EAGLES LABOR DAY FEST. Male. Divisions: Peewee, Bantam, Squirt. Levels: AA, A. Contact: info@onehockey.com or onehockey.com
We are looking for a head coach! Surrey Minor Hockey Association is now accepting coach applications for its REP teams. Visit us online at www.surreyminorhockey.com to access our coach application form. Please send your completed application to coachapplications@surreyminorhockey.com before July 25, 2017. * Opportunity to review remuneration (non parent coaches) commensurate with experience/qualifications. We look forward to your application!
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HOCKEYNOW June 23, 2017
June 23, 2017 HOCKEYNOW
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HOCKEYNOW June 23, 2017