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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Beaupit, Sward Check in on Final CSS Rankings for 2022 NHL Draft

May 5, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


The NHL Central Scouting Service revealed its final rankings on Thursday, and a pair of Chiefs were among those listed with netminder Mason Beaupit ranked fifth among North American goalies and defenseman Graham Sward ranked 93rd among North American skaters. Chiefs international prospect David Jiricek also made the list, coming in at fourth among International skaters.

Beaupit, a 6-foot-5 goalie out of Surrey, B.C., is first eligible for the draft in 2022 despite being born in 2003, as his birthday is after the league's September 15 cutoff. He recently finished his second full season with the Chiefs, posting a 0.893 SV% and 3.63 GAA. Out of his 49 regular season games in 2021-22, Beaupit had 20 with 30 or more saves, including a career-best 52 against the Portland Winterhawks on February 20. The 18-year-old goalie also recorded his first career shutout this season on October 15 against the Tri-City Americans. Beaupit was originally a fourth-round pick (82nd overall) by Spokane in the 2018 WHL Draft.

After attending the Colorado Avalanche's development camp in the fall, Sward has been hot this season, earning 43 points (10G-33A) over 57 regular season games. After returning from an injury on April 1, Sward went on a four-game point streak (2G-3A) helping propel the Chiefs in their late-season playoff push. Spokane's first-round pick (17th overall) in the 2018 WHL Draft, the Abbotsford, B.C. native finished the year among the WHL's top 15 defensemen in assists and total points, and the top 10 defensemen in goals.

Beaupit and Sward both improved on their placement in January's CSS midterm rankings, with Beaupit climbing from seventh to fifth and Sward jumping from 148th to 93rd.

Meanwhile, Jiricek maintained his fourth-place ranking among International skaters since January's CSS midterm rankings. A defenseman from the Czech Republic, Spokane selected Jiricek with the 54th overall pick of the 2020 CHL Import Draft. He spent this season with HC Plzen, where he posted 11 points (5G-6A) in 29 games. He also played 12 international games with Czechia U20, where he tacked on six more points on six assists.

In addition, the following Spokane Chiefs prospects were also ranked:

54 - North American Skaters: Jake Livanavage (3-42-45, 61 GP)

102 - North American Skaters: Garrett Brown (4-12-16, 62 GP)

167 - North American Skaters: Carson Buyden (27-26-53, 54 GP)

19 - North American Goalies: Paxton Geisel (0.897 SV%, 3.13 GAA, 40 GP)

The 2022 draft is scheduled to be held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from July 7-8, 2022. The NHL Draft Lottery to determine the first 16 picks in the draft will be announced at a later date.

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The Spokane Chiefs are a member of the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League, the world's finest development league for junior hockey players. Since 1985 the Chiefs have been a pillar in the Spokane community, offering family-friendly entertainment and a winning tradition which includes: two Memorial Cup Championships in 1991 & 2008, two WHL Championships in 1991 & 2008 and four Western Conference Championships in 1991, 1996, 2000 & 2008. Over 60 alumni have gone on to play in the National Hockey League.

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