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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Cagnoni, Sotheran, Špunar Named to NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings

April 18, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland, Ore. - The Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club is proud to share that three current players were recognized today on the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft. The draft is set to take place from June 28-29, 2023 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Defensemen Luca Cagnoni and Carter Sotheran and goaltender Jan Špunar were named on all three lists produced by Central Scouting this season. Cagnoni earned an end-of-season ranking of #35, keeping consistent with his previous ranking of #34. Sotheran enters the final list as the #71 ranked North American skater, climbing 18 spots from the January report, and Špunar claims the #10 spot on the list among North American goaltenders, one spot ahead of where he stood in January.

Cagnoni finished the regular season ranked tenth among WHL defensemen with 64 points in 67 games. His 17 goals this season were the third-most tallies among first-year NHL Draft-eligible defensemen.

Cagnoni trailed only Anaheim Ducks prospect Olen Zellweger and Seattle Kraken 2022 draft selection Ty Nelson with 243 shots on goal as a Canadian Hockey League (CHL) defenseman during the regular season. Setting new career highs in goals, assists and points, the third-year Winterhawk was named co-MVP during the Winterhawks end-of-season awards. Earlier this season, he became the 26th defenseman in Winterhawks history to surpass 100 career points. Through seven playoff games, Cagnoni has recorded four assists and six penalty minutes.

The Burnaby, B.C. native missed only one regular season game with the Hawks this season because he was invited as one of 40 players to participate in the NHL/CHL Top Prospect Game in January.

Sotheran ranked second among WHL rookie defensemen with 23 points during the regular season. The 17-year-old skater was the only Winterhawk to dress in all 68 regular season games. The 6-foot-4, 201-pound rearguard recorded three multi-point games this season while maintaining an imposing, physical presence in his own zone.

The Sanford, Manitoba native was recognized as the Winterhawks' Rookie of the Year during their end-of-season awards. He has recorded one assist in seven WHL playoff games.

Originally selected by the Winterhawks in the fifth round, #97 overall, of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Sotheran spent the 2021-22 season as alternate captain of the Pembina Valley Hawks U18 AAA team. Last season, he led his team in scoring with 54 points in 41 games and was named the Canadian Elite Hockey League (CEHL) U18 Defenseman of the Year.

Špunar, 18, boasts an impressive 17-7-2-1 record with the Winterhawks along with a 2.61 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. The Olomouc, Czechia native has made 211 saves through seven WHL Playoff games, which is the most among WHL backstops still competing.

Špunar recorded his first WHL shutout on April 1, making 23 saves in a Game 2 victory against Everett. He extended his shutout streak to 120 minutes and 18 seconds during the first-round series, and is looking to hear his name called in his second draft-eligible season.

The Winterhawks selected Špunar in the first round, #52 overall, of the 2022 CHL Import Draft. Špunar spent the last two seasons playing for his hometown HC Olomouc Under-2o program. Last year, he went 22-8-0 to go along with a 2.57 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. The first-year Winterhawk has also represented Czechia 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.

All three Winterhawks were previously listed on the NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Rankings and Preliminary 'Players to Watch' lists.

2022-23 NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings - Winterhawks Prospects

Additionally, three unsigned Portland prospects appeared on the list, highlighted by Winterhawks 2020 second-round WHL Prospects Draft selection Jayden Perron.

SKATERS

Rank Last Name First Name Hometown Team Height Weight Position

43 Perron Jayden Winnipeg, Man. Chicago Steel (USHL) 5'9" 163 C

120 Weiermaier Alex Los Angeles, CA USNTDP U18 6'0" 190 C

GOALIES

Rank Last Name First Name Hometown Team Height Weight Position

8 Musser Carsen Sherburn, MN USNTDP U18 6'4" 215 G

2022-23 NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings - WHL Players

In total, 54 WHL players were named on the final rankings. The complete list of ranked WHL skaters and goalies follows below.

North American Skaters

Rank Last Name First Name Hometown Team Height Weight Position

1 Bedard Connor North Vancouver, B.C. Regina Pats 5'10" 185 C

6 Benson Zach Chilliwack, B.C. Winnipeg ICE 5'9" 163 C

7 Danielson Nate Red Deer, Alta. Brandon Wheat Kings 6'2" 185 C

9 Honzek Samuel Trencin, Slovakia Vancouver Giants 6'4" 186 LW

11 Yager Brayden Saskatoon, Sask. Moose Jaw Warriors 5'11" 166 C

15 Cristall Andrew Burnaby, B.C. Kelowna Rockets 5'10" 167 LW

18 Dragicevic Lukas Richmond, B.C. Tri-City Americans 6'1" 190 D

21 Heidt Riley Saskatoon, Sask. Prince George Cougars 5'10" 178 C

24 Sawchyn Gracyn Grande Prairie, Alta. Seattle Thunderbirds 5'11" 157 C

25 Ziemmer Koehn Mayerthorpe, Alta. Prince George Cougars 6'0" 202 RW

26 Myatovic Nico Prince George, B.C. Seattle Thunderbirds 6'2" 182 LW

28 Molendyk Tanner McBride, B.C. Saskatoon Blades 6'0" 182 D

35 Cagnoni Luca Burnaby, B.C. Portland Winterhawks 5'9" 180 D

39 Lind Kalan Shaunavon, Sask. Red Deer Rebels 6'0" 158 LW

47 Price Caden Saskatoon, Sask. Kelowna Rockets 6'1" 185 D

49 Lipinski Jaden Scottsdale, Ariz. Vancouver Giants 6'4" 204 C

62 Mynio Sawyer Kamloops, B.C. Seattle Thunderbirds 6'1" 173 D

71 Sotheran Carter Sanford, Man. Portland Winterhawks 6'3" 197 D

75 Levis Connor Vancouver, B.C. Kamloops Blazers 6'1" 187 RW

81 Sidorov Egor Vitebsk, Belarus Saskatoon Blades 6'0" 182 RW

89 Halaburda Ty Victoria, B.C. Vancouver Giants 5'11" 178 C

93 Parker Kalem Clavet, Sask. Victoria Royals 6'0" 192 D

95 Hammell Kaden Langley, B.C. Everett Silvertips 6'1" 173 D

107 Kipkie Justin Calgary, Alta. Victoria Royals 6'3" 195 D

108 McMillan Deagan Vernon, B.C. Tri-City Americans 6'2" 196 RW

113 Roest Austin Coldstream, B.C. Everett Silvertips 5'10" 175 C

115 Uchacz Kai De Winton, Alta. Red Deer Rebels 6'2" 194 RW

124 Hanzel Jeremy Coquitlam, B.C. Seattle Thunderbirds 6'1" 196 D

125 Leslie Mazden Lloydminster, Alta. Vancouver Giants 6'0" 193 D

132 Weinstein Saige Edmonton, Alta. Spokane Chiefs 6'0" 179 D

138 Mantei Quinn Weyburn, Sask. Brandon Wheat Kings 6'0" 180 D

141 Fabrizi Matteo St. Albert, Alta. Red Deer Rebels 6'5" 238 D

152 Valis Borya Denver, Colo. Regina Pats 6'1" 182 RW

154 Chadwick Noah Saskatoon, Sask. Lethbridge Hurricanes 6'4" 187 D

156 Wormald Logan Langley, B.C. Lethbridge Hurricanes 5'10" 144 LW

158 De Luca Tommaso Aosta, Italy Spokane Chiefs 5'11" 178 C

172 Port Vojtech Jihlava, Czechia Edmonton Oil Kings 6'2" 168 D

180 Goldsmith Terrell Fort St. James, B.C. Prince Albert Raiders 6'4" 223 D

203 Mayo Hunter Saskatoon, Sask. Red Deer Rebels 6'1" 196 D

205 Miller Cole Edmonton, Alta. Edmonton Oil Kings 6'4" 174 C

206 Thornton Hudson Winnipeg, Man. Prince George Cougars 5'11" 180 D

210 Watterodt Vaughn Rosetown, Sask. Saskatoon Blades 5'11" 183 LW

215 Tulk Oliver Gibsons, B.C. Calgary Hitmen 5'7" 170 C

220 Szturc Gabriel Cesky Tesin, Czechia Kelowna Rockets 5'11" 186 C

223 Thorpe Tyler Richmond, B.C. Vancouver Giants 6'4" 194 RW

North American Goaltenders

Rank Last Name First Name Hometown Team Height Weight Position

1 Bjarnason Carson Carberry, Man. Brandon Wheat Kings 6'3" 186 G

4 Ratzlaff Scott Irma, Alta. Seattle Thunderbirds 6'1" 175 G

9 Suchanek Tomas Olomouc, Czechia Tri-City Americans 6'1" 180 G

10 Spunar Jan Olomouc, Czechia Portland Winterhawks 6'3" 185 G

19 Unger Jackson Calgary, Alta. Moose Jaw Warriors 6'1" 179 G

23 Michaluk Cooper Edmonton, Alta. Spokane Chiefs 6'1" 166 G

26 Ernst Dylan Weyburn, Sask. Kamloops Blazers 6'2" 196 G

28 Milic Thomas Coquitlam, B.C. Seattle Thunderbirds 6'0" 179 G

31 Metzger Tim Zurich, Switzerland Everett Silvertips 6'5" 192 G

In its 48th year of operation, NHL Central Scouting provides evaluation and scouting of draft-eligible players to NHL member clubs. Headed by Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr, NHL Central Scouting employs eight full-time scouts throughout North America.

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