WHL Portland Winterhawks

Buttazzoni, Špunar, Zakreski Named to NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Season Draft Rankings

Published on January 12, 2024 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland, Ore. - The Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club is proud to recognize three current players who have been named to NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Season Draft Rankings ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft. The draft is set to take place at the Sphere in Las Vegas from June 28 to 29, 2024.

Forwards Diego Buttazzoni and Josh Zakreski, as well as goaltender Jan Špunar, were recognized on today's list after previously being named on Central Scouting's preliminary 'players to watch list' last fall.

NHL Central Scouting is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they are projected to translate to the professional game.

Buttazzoni ranks 114th among North American skaters on the mid-season list. The Langley, B.C. native opened the 2023-24 campaign with a 14-game point streak and he currently ranks seventh among first-year NHL Draft eligible WHL skaters with 16 goals and 29 points in 36 games. Buttazzoni has produced four multi-goal games during his second season in Portland. Originally selected by Medicine Hat in the second round, #37 overall, of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Buttazzoni was acquired via trade prior to the 2022-23 campaign and is looking to help the Hawks contend for a Division Championship.

Zakreski clocks in at 118 on the list of North American skaters and has produced offensively in the last month. Since December 1, 2023, Zakreski has scored eight goals in his last 11 games and has already matched his rookie totals in scoring with 13 goals in half the amount of games. The Saskatoon, Sask. product is tied with Buttazzoni for seventh in team scoring, netting 29 points in 37 games. Originally selected by Portland in the eighth round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Zakreski has produced 57 points in 115 career games at the time of the mid-season rankings.

Špunar, in his third draft-eligible season, earns the 21st ranking among North American goaltenders following a stellar start to his 19-year-old season. Špunar currently leads the Canadian Hockey League with a 1.82 goals-against-average to accompany a dazzling .929 save percentage across 16 games. The Winterhawks' netminder is 11-3-0-0 on the season, but hasn't played since November 19, 2023 when he sustained a lower-body injury. The Olomouc, CZE native was previously named the WHL's Goaltender of the Month in September/October for his electric start to his sophomore season. Špunar has also represented the Czech Republic at the Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-20 levels of competition, most recently competing at the 2022 Four Nations Tournament and the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

In total, 60 WHL players were named to the mid-season list. The complete list of ranked WHL skaters and goalies follows below, including eight of the top 20 skaters and two top-ten ranked goaltenders.

2023-24 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings - WHL Skaters

Rank Last Name First Name Hometown Team Ht Wt Pos

3 Lindstrom Cayden Chetwynd, B.C. Medicine Hat Tigers 6'3" 210 C

6 Yakemchuk Carter Calgary, Alta. Calgary Hitmen 6'3" 190 D

9 Catton Berkly Saskatoon, Sask. Spokane Chiefs 5'11" 170 C

11 Iginla Tij Lake Country, B.C. Kelowna Rockets 6'0" 186 C

13 Jecho Adam Zlin, Czechia Edmonton Oil Kings 6'5" 201 C

14 Parascak Terik Lethbridge, Alta. Prince George Cougars 6'0" 176 RW

16 Ritchie Ryder Kelowna, B.C. Prince Albert Raiders 6'0" 175 RW

18 Basha Andrew Calgary, Alta. Medicine Hat Tigers 5'11" 184 LW

24 Roberts Colton Maple Ridge, B.C. Vancouver Giants 6'4" 198 D

26 Curran Max Prague, Czechia Tri-City Americans 6'3" 179 C

28 Elick Charlie Calgary, Alta. Brandon Wheat Kings 6'3" 200 D

29 Howe Tanner Prince Albert, Sask. Regina Pats 5'10" 182 LW

33 Marques Miguel Prince George, B.C. Lethbridge Hurricanes 5'11" 173 RW

43 Josephson Ollie Victoria, B.C. Red Deer Rebels 6'0" 185 C

44 Wetsch Carson North Vancouver, B.C. Calgary Hitmen 6'0" 187 RW

49 Miettinen Julius Helsinki, Finland Everett Silvertips 6'3" 205 C

54 Smith Tarin Porcupine Plain, Sask. Everett Silvertips 6'1" 175 D

66 Misskey Nate Melfort, Sask. Victoria Royals 6'3" 210 D

67 Brunicke Harrison Calgary, Alta. Kamloops Blazers 6'2" 185 D

68 Caswell Clarke Brandon, Man. Swift Current Broncos 5'11" 170 LW

84 Becher Ondrej Ostrava, Czechia Prince George Cougars 6'1" 184 C

90 Mrsic Tomas Surrey, B.C. Medicine Hat Tigers 5'11" 170 C

94 Gojsic Hiroki Langley, B.C. Kelowna Rockets 6'3" 198 RW

98 McIsaac William Vancouver, B.C. Spokane Chiefs 6'3" 192 D

99 Alcos Parker Port Moody, B.C. Edmonton Oil Kings 6'3" 180 D

107 Jamieson Eric Calgary, Alta. Everett Silvertips 6'3" 199 D

108 Laing Hunter Kelowna, B.C. Prince George Cougars 6'5" 205 C

110 Thorpe Tyler Richmond, B.C. Vancouver Giants 6'4" 209 RW

114 Buttazzoni Diego Langley, B.C. Portland Winterhawks 5'9" 183 C

118 Zakreski Josh Saskatoon, Sask. Portland Winterhawks 5'11" 188 LW

123 Cooper Miles Calgary, Alta. Wenatchee Wild 5'10" 163 C

136 Vaughan Corbin Merritt, B.C. Regina Pats 6'0" 205 D

139 Fluker Josh Boissevain, Man. Wenatchee Wild 6'0" 160 D

148 Vaughan Jaxsin Merritt, B.C. Regina Pats 6'1" 206 RW

162 Heslop Jesse Nanaimo, B.C. Everett Silvertips 5'11" 171 LW

163 Fawcett Keets Grimshaw, Alta. Calgary Hitmen 5'10" 167 RW

170 McKenzie Pavel Cumberland House, Sask. Moose Jaw Warriors 6'0" 174 LW

175 Hadland Caleb Sylvan Lake, Alta. Brandon Wheat Kings 5'10" 174 LW

187 Edwards Brayden Abbotsford, B.C. Lethbridge Hurricanes 6'0" 186 C

188 Smith Shane Cessford, Alta. Medicine Hat Tigers 6'0" 194 C

190 Wilke Trae Saskatoon, Sask. Lethbridge Hurricanes 6'0" 191 LW

192 Ward Landen Lloydminster, Alta. Lethbridge Hurricanes 6'3" 200 LW

195 Valliant Chase Surrey, B.C. Calgary Hitmen 6'0" 174 C

200 Pederson Rhys Stettler, Alta. Edmonton Oil Kings 6'4" 194 D

206 Davidson Hyde Edmonton, Alta. Seattle Thunderbirds 6'2" 165 D

210 Mistelbacher Luke Steinbach, Man. Swift Current Broncos 6'0" 195 RW

211 Williams Dax Calgary, Alta. Calgary Hitmen 6'0" 190 D

214 Pickford Bryce Chauvin, Alta. Seattle Thunderbirds 6'0" 170 D

220 Kubiesa Matej Frydek-Mistek, Czechia Prince Albert Raiders 5'11" 171 RW

221 Drancak Samuel Strakonice, Czechia Red Deer Rebels 5'11" 185 C

223 Titlbach Adam Litvinov, Czechia Vancouver Giants 5'9" 164 C

224 Hodnett Gavin Winnipeg, Man. Edmonton Oil Kings 5'7" 158 C

2023-24 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings - WHL Goaltenders

Rank Last Name First Name Hometown Team Ht Wt Pos

5 Cowan Dawson Warren, Man. Spokane Chiefs 6'2" 185 G

9 Matecha Lukas Paradubice, Czechia Tri-City Americans 6'3" 194 G

13 Wutzke Chase Debden, Sask. Red Deer Rebels 6'2" 158 G

16 Gardner Evan Lake Country, B.C. Saskatoon Blades 6'0" 175 G

18 Unger Jackson Calgary, Alta. Moose Jaw Warriors 6'1" 185 G

21 Špunar Jan Olomouc, Czechia Portland Winterhawks 6'3" 185 G

26 Meneghin Harrison South Surrey, B.C. Lethbridge Hurricanes 6'3" 164 G

28 Stoesser Rhett Carstairs, Alta. Red Deer Rebels 6'1" 206 G

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2024


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