WHL Spokane Chiefs

Cowen Tops Central Scouting's WHL List

November 18, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Spokane Chief Defenseman Jared Cowen tops the NHL's Central Scouting rankings of draft eligible skaters from the Western Hockey League in their preliminary rankings for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The 6'5" defenseman is in his second season as a Chief and was named the team's Rookie of the Year and the Western Conference's Scholastic Player of the Year in 2008.

The Vancouver Giants Evander Kane, the WHL's leading scorer, is ranked second.

Tuesday's release ranked the top 25 skaters and the best goalies in the OHL, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. Also, the top European prospects were rated by country, and NCAA players were ranked by league.

"Cowen has an offensive upside to him as well as size," said NHL Central Scouting Director E.J. McGuire. "I really think the combination of them both is why right now, in mid-November, why he (Cowen) is a notch ahead of Evander Kane."

Spokane made Cowen the first overall selection in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft and in 2007-08 the Allan, Saskatchewan native appeared in 68 games, scored four goals and 18 points. His +28 led all rookie defensemen last year. In August, Cowen was named an Alternate Captain and helped Team Canada win a gold medal at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka under-18 World Championships.

The 17-year-old will play for Team WHL at the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge for Team WHL on November 26th in Swift Current and November 27th in Prince Albert.

Western Hockey League Preliminary Rankings - Fall 2008

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE - SKATERS

PLAYER TEAM BIRTHDAY HT WT POS

1 Jared Cowen Spokane 25-Jan-91 6'4.75" 218 D

2 Evander Kane Vancouver 2-Aug-91 6'1" 180 C

3 Brayden Schenn Brandon 22-Aug-91 6' 193 C

4 Scott Glennie Brandon 22-Feb-91 6'1" 180 C

5 Stefan Elliott Saskatoon 30-Jan-91 6'.25" 185 D

6 Carton Ashton Lethbridge 1-Apr-91 6'4.75" 212 RW

7 Tommi Kivisto Red Deer 7-Jun-91 6'.5" 198 D

8 Tyson Barrie Kelowna 26-Jul-91 5'10.25" 188 D

9 Landon Ferraro Red Deer 8-Aug-91 5'11" 169 C

10 Ryan Button Prince Albert 26-Mar-91 6'.25" 185 D

11 Jimmy Bubnick Kamloops 19-Jan-91 6'1.5" 188 C

12 Burke Gallimore Saskatoon 8-Jan-91 5'11.5" 195 RW

13 Cassidy Mappin Red Deer 20-Dec-90 6' 186 LW

14 Ryan Howse Chilliwack 6-Jul-91 5'10.75" 195 LW

15 Brayden McNabb Kootenay 21-Jan-91 6'3.5" 200 D

16 Tomas Vincour Edmonton 19-Nov-90 6'2" 203 C

17 Garrett Mitchell Regina 9-Feb-91 5'10" 180 RW

18 Adam Hughesman Tri-City 28-Feb-91 5'10.5" 185 LW

19 Willie Coetzee Red Deer 7-Nov-90 5-'-9.5 186 RW

20 Cody Eakin Swift Current 25-May-91 5'10.75" 180 C

21 Brodie Melynchuck Brandon 13-May-91 6'3.5" 196 D

22 Collin Bowman Kelowna 13-Jun-91 6'2.25" 200 D

23 Stepan Novotny Kelowna 21-Sep-90 6'1.5" 190 RW

24 Dalibor Bortnak Kamloops 17-Feb-91 6'3.5" 185 C

25 Brennan Yadlowski Lethbridge 17-Jun-91 6'0.5" 174 D

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE - GOALIES

RANK EAM BIRTHDAY HT WT

1 Nathan Lieuwen Kootenay 8-Aug-91 6'4.75" 188

2 Jon Groenheyde Kamloops 4-Apr-91 6'3" 195

3 Damien Ketlo Regina 29-Jan-91 5'11.5" 178

4 Darcy Kuemper Red Deer 5-May-90 6'3.5" 195

5 Jamie Tucker Vancouver 18-Apr-91 5'10.75" 160

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from November 18, 2008


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