4 Giants Listed by NHL Central Scouting on Preliminary List for 2025 NHL Draft

October 23, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release

Vancouver Giants goaltender Burke Hood
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rob Wilton)

Leading the way was forward Cameron Schmidt, who was given a 'B' rating, followed by goaltender Matthew Hutchison ('C'), forward Aaron Obobaifo ('C') and goaltender Burke Hood ('W'). Twenty-one of 22 Western Hockey League clubs are represented in the preliminary rankings. With four players, the Giants are tied for the second-most with Victoria. Calgary and Spokane each have five.

A 'B' rating indicates a second or third round candidate, 'C' rated players project as fourth or fifth-round picks and a 'W' rating indicates a player who could go in the sixth or seventh round.

Below is the breakdown of the four Giants players.

Rating Last Name First Name Hometown Ht Wt Pos

B Schmidt Cameron Prince George, B.C. 5'7" 161 RW

C Hutchison Matthew Nanaimo, B.C. 6'3" 189 G

C Obobaifo Aaron Calgary, Alta. 5'10" 183 LW

W Hood Burke Brandon, Man. 6'3" 197 G

A total of 55 Western Hockey League players were named to the list: 35 forwards, 10 defencemen and 10 goaltenders.

Six WHL players have received an 'A' rating: Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman Blake Fiddler, Moose Jaw Warriors forward Lynden Lakovic, Brandon Wheat Kings forward Roger McQueen, Victoria Royals centreman Cole Reschny, Tri-City Americans defenceman Jackson Smith and Prince George Cougars netminder Joshua Ravensbergen.

Schmidt - who was named to Team CHL yesterday for the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge - was one of 10 WHL players to receive a 'B' rating.

2024-25 NHL Central Scouting 'Preliminary Players to Watch' List - WHL Players

Rating Last Name First Name Hometown Team Height Weight POS

A Fiddler Blake Frisco, Texas Edmonton Oil Kings 6'4 209 D

A Lakovic Lynden West Kelowna, B.C Moose Jaw Warriors 6'4.25 190 LW

A McQueen Roger Saskatoon, Sask. Brandon Wheat Kings 6'5/25 197 C

A Ravensbergen Joshua North Vancouver, B.C. Prince George Cougars 6'5.25 190 G

A Reschny Cole Macklin, Sask. Victoria Royals 5'10.5 183 C

A Smith Jackson Calgary, Alta. Tri-City Americans 6'3.25 195 D

B Bear Carter West St. Paul, Man. Everett Silvertips 6'0 179 LW

B Behm Nathan Calgary, Alta. Kamloops Blazers 6'1.5 192 RW

B Cootes Braeden Sherwood Park, Alta. Seattle Thunderbirds 5'11.25 183 C

B Gard Matthew Winnipeg, Man. Red Deer Rebels 6'4.75 192 C

B Hamilton Reese Whitewood, Sask. Calgary Hitmen 6'0 172 D

B Kettles Peyton Winnipeg, Man. Swift Current Broncos 6'5.25 190 D

B Kindel Benjamin Coquitlam, B.C. Calgary Hitmen 5'10 176 C

B Martin Owen Oakbank, Man. Spokane Chiefs 5'11.75 185 C

B Paupanekis Hayden Winnipeg, Man. Spokane Chiefs 6'4.25 196 C

B Schmidt Cameron Prince George, B.C. Vancouver Giants 5'7.25 161 RW

C Bridgeman Kolten Regina, Sask. Regina Pats 6'4 216 D

C Foster Aiden Lloydminster, Alta. Prince George Cougars 6'2 182 C

C Gavin Jordan Surrey, B.C. Tri-City Americans 5'11 187 LW

C Gorzynski Brandon Scottsdale, Ariz. Calgary Hitmen 6'1.5 185 C

C Hutchison Matthew Nanaimo, B.C. Vancouver Giants 6'2.5 189 G

C Klippenstein Carter Lethbridge, Alta. Brandon Wheat Kings 6'2.5 180 C

C Koch Cassius Calgary, Alta. Tri-City Americans 5'11.25 197 LW

C Kraus Jayden Prince Albert, Sask. Victoria Royals 6'1.5 201 G

C Lajoie Jett Winnipeg, Man. Prince George Cougars 5'11.5 178 RW

C McCann Kadon Cochrane, Alta. Medicine Hat Tigers 6'3 200 C

C Obobaifo Aaron Calgary, Alta. Vancouver Giants 5'9.5 183 LW

C Sharpe Will Ladner, B.C. Lethbridge Hurricanes 6'0 195 D

C Stebetak Ondrej Jihlava, Cze. Portland Winterhawks 6'1.5 173 G

C Vlooswyk Luke Calgary, Alta. Red Deer Rebels 6'4.5 200 D

C Zahejsky Vit Karlovy Vary, Cze. Kamloops Blazers 5'9.75 175 C

W Andresen Kash Saskatoon, Sask. Lethbridge Hurricanes 6'1.5 182 C

W Baumuller Joby Wilcox, Sask. Brandon Wheat Kings 5'11.25 188 RW

W Bibeau Ethan Winnipeg, Man. Prince Albert Raiders 6'1 187 C

W Cleaver Koen Port Alberni, B.C. Lethbridge Hurricanes 6'1.5 188 G

W Coupland Ty North Vancouver, B.C. Swift Current Broncos 5'10.25 154 RW

W Cowan Dawson Warren, Man. Spokane Chiefs 6'2 186 G

W Hood Burke Brandon, Man. Vancouver Giants 6'2.75 197 G

W James William Calgary, Alta. Saskatoon Blades 5'10.25 154 RW

W Lafreniere Tommy Hornby Island, B.C. Kamloops Blazers 5'11 172 RW

W Lewandowski David Dusseldorf, Ger. Saskatoon Blades 6'1.25 177 LW

W Matthews Caleb Calgary, Alta. Victoria Royals 6'1.75 173 RW

W Mayes Sawyer Salmon Arm, B.C. Calgary Hitmen 6'4 188 C

W Michnik Spencer Sylvan Lake, Alta. Victoria Royals 6'1 202 G

W Miller Ryan Medicine Hat, Alta. Portland Winterhawks 5'11.75 177 C

W Pekar Matej Prerov, Cze. Seattle Thunderbirds 5'10 158 RW

W Perry Hudson Sexsmith, Alta. Edmonton Oil Kings 6'2 164 G

W Pilon Jake Calgary, Alta. Kelowna Rockets 6'4.25 210 G

W Sarkenov Asanali Astana, Kaz. Spokane Chiefs 6'4 198 RW

W Sawchyn Lukas Grande Prairie, Alta. Edmonton Oil Kings 5'9.75 168 C

W Schmidt Connor Sturgeon County, Alta. Moose Jaw Warriors 5'11.25 180 D

W Schoettler Owen Edmonton, Alta. Spokane Chiefs 6'0 181 D

W Svancara Robin Trinec, Cze. Calgary Hitmen 6'4 186 LW

W Temple Cole Brandon, Man. Regina Pats 5'9.25 166 C

W Woo Jonas Winnipeg, Man. Medicine Hat 5'8.75 165 D

The next chance to see the Giants in action is on Sunday, October 27 at 4 p.m. when they host the Kamloops Blazers at the Langley Events Centre in the annual Trick or Suite night.

Vancouver Giants forward Cameron Schmidt (Rob Wilton)	Vancouver Giants forward Cameron Schmidt (Rob Wilton)	Vancouver Giants goaltender Matthew Hutchison (Rob Wilton)
Vancouver Giants goaltender Matthew Hutchison (Rob Wilton)	Vancouver Giants forward Aaron Obobaifo (Rob Wilton)	Vancouver Giants forward Aaron Obobaifo (Rob Wilton)
Vancouver Giants goaltender Burke Hood (Rob Wilton)

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 23, 2024

• Annual Trick Or Suite Takes Place Sunday, October 27 vs. Blazers - Vancouver Giants
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• 4 Giants Listed by NHL Central Scouting on Preliminary List for 2025 NHL Draft - Vancouver Giants
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• Carter Bear Given 'B' Rating by NHL Central Scouting Service - Everett Silvertips
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• Victoria Royals Announce Launch of Victoria Jr. Royals Development Program - Victoria Royals
• Ravensbergen, Lajoie, and Foster Named to NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Rankings - Prince George Cougars
• Celebrate Spooky Season with the Winterhawks on Keep Portland Fear'D Night - Portland Winterhawks
• Fifty-Five WHL Players Named to NHL Central Scouting's Preliminary Players to Watch List for 2025 NHL Draft - WHL
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• Jackson Smith, Jordan Gavin and Cash Koch listed on NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Rankings for 2025 NHL Draft - Tri-City Americans
• Game Day Preview: Game 11 vs Calgary Hitmen - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Three Warriors Prospects Set to Take Part in 2024 WHL Cup - Moose Jaw Warriors
• T-Birds Fly Past Warriors - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Warriors Downed by Thunderbirds in Tuesday Battle - Moose Jaw Warriors

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