OHL North Bay Battalion

McKenzie, Bruce Ranked for NHL Draft

Published on April 8, 2015 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


NORTH BAY, Ont. - Brett McKenzie and Riley Bruce of the North Bay Battalion have drawn the season-long attention of National Hockey League scouts.

McKenzie is ranked No. 120, while Bruce is No. 210, in final ratings of North American-based skaters released Wednesday by the league's central scouting department before the 2015 NHL Draft in June.

There are a total of 46 Ontario Hockey League skaters on the 210-player ranked list, as well as six OHL goaltenders on a 30-man list.

"I'm happy with both players that they've got on the final central scouting list," said Battalion coach Stan Butler. "Obviously, where they're ranked, there's room for improvement, and I think that it's important for them to continue to play well in the playoffs and, by doing this, this will enhance their chances to get drafted in June."

McKenzie, who has played centre and left wing, scored 11 goals and earned 21 assists for 32 points in 68 games this season. He was 124th in the midseason rankings.

A resident of Vars, Ont., who turned 18 on March 12, McKenzie was the Battalion's first-round pick, 10th overall, in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection from the Oakville Rangers minor midgets. He registered 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points in 63 OHL games as a rookie in 2013-14.

"I want to improve and go higher than I'm ranked, but I just have to work harder," said McKenzie.

Defenceman Bruce, who didn't appear on the midseason list, had three assists in 52 games this season after earning four in 57 games a year ago.

Bruce, an Ottawa native who turns 18 on July 16, was a third-round pick, 50th overall, in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection from the Ottawa Valley Titans minor midgets.

"Obviously, it feels great to be on that list," said Bruce. "It's a huge honour. I think that going forward I just need to work on getting quicker, just making that good first pass."

Centre Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters is No. 1 in the ranking of North American skaters. Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts is the top-rated goaltender on the continental list.

The NHL, which also compiles lists of what it calls international skaters and goaltenders, is to hold its draft June 26-27 at Sunrise, Fla. Players are first-time eligible in the year they turn 18, unless they're born Sept. 16 or later, in which case they must wait until the following year.

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