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WHL Western Hockey League

Fifty-Five WHL Players Named to NHL Central Scouting's Preliminary Players to Watch List for 2025 NHL Draft

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


Calgary, Alta. - Fifty-five Western Hockey League players have been named to NHL Central Scouting's Preliminary Players to Watch List ahead of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the agency announced Wednesday.

NHL Central Scouting uses a five-category rating system to project where a player could be drafted. An 'A' rating indicates a potential first-round candidate. 'B' rated players are expected to hear their names called in the second or third round. '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. The agency also used the 'LV' (Limited Viewing) tag to recognize injured players who haven't had sufficient viewing to be categorized.

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.

Another 10 skaters earned 'B' ratings, including Everett Silvertips winger Carter Bear, Seattle Thunderbirds centre Braeden Cootes and Calgary Hitmen teammates Benjamin Kindel and Reese Hamilton, who have also been named to Team CHL for the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada.

Twenty-one WHL clubs are represented in the preliminary rankings, with the Calgary Hitmen and Spokane Chiefs leading the way with five listed prospects each and the Vancouver Giants and Victoria Royals tying for second with four each.

The WHL's 55 listed players sit second among the Canadian Hockey League's three member leagues. The Ontario Hockey League is first with 62 and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League has 38.

A total of 35 WHL forwards have been ranked along with 10 defencemen and 10 goaltenders.

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

Rating Last Name First Name Hometown Team Height Weight Position

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

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