WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

WHL Stars Look To NHL Draft

Published on June 25, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


The 2010 NHL Entry Draft begins Friday night as personnel from the NHL's 30 clubs prepare to add to their team's prospect pipeline at the event on June 25th and 26th in Los Angeles, CA.

As one of the leading suppliers of talent to the NHL, the Western Hockey League will again see many of its top draft-eligible players selected by NHL clubs. Since the inception of the NHL Entry Draft in 1969, the WHL has seen 1,719 players drafted by NHL teams, representing 18.4 per cent of all drafted players in the history of the event.

The 2010 crop of WHL draft-eligible prospects is impressive, wi th a total of 53 WHL players - including four goaltenders - included in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings of North American draft-eligible players.

Heading the crop of WHL draft-eligible skaters is forward Brett Connolly of the Prince George Cougars. The 18-year-old Prince George, B.C., native is a dynamic and multi-tooled offensive star for his hometown team. Although he missed the majority of the 2009-10 WHL season due to injury, Connolly proved himself as a rookie in '08-09 by earning both the WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honors after becoming the first 16-year-old to score 30 goals in the League since Patrick Marleau did it with Seattle in 1995-96.

"He's 6'3", he skates very, very well, and he's got unbelievable vision with the puck and the ability to make pl ays," said Prince George Cougars head coach and general manager Dean Clark of Connolly, who is ranked third among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. "He'll be for sure a top-six forward for whoever ends up taking him."

Other of the WHL's top NHL draft-eligible forwards include Portland Winterhawks' trio Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Johansen and Brad Ross, Medicine Hat Tigers' speedy scorer Emerson Etem, and Moose Jaw Warriors' smooth-skating center Quinton Howden.

Leading the way among the WHL's crop of draft-eligible defensemen is Mark Pysyk of the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Sherwood Park, AB, product is a solid defenseman with terrific skating ability, good hockey sense, and strong leadership qualities. Pysyk, who is ranked seventh by NHL Central Scouting, scored seven goals and 24 points in 48 games for the Oil Kings in 2009-10. A smart and steady presence in his own zone, Pysyk has also shown he can contribute offensively.

"Mark is a pretty safe, reliable defenseman who doesn't make a lot of mistakes, pays attention to detail, and does a lot of the little things that maybe go unnoticed," said Oil Kings' general manager Bob Green. "Definitely, his skating and his hockey sense are the first thing you'll notice when you watch him play, but he's got a lot of character, he's a solid player who is dedicated to the game, he works hard, and has great habits on and off the ice."

Also sure to h ear their names called on NHL draft day are bruising defenseman Dylan McIlrath of the Moose Jaw Warriors, two-way rearguard Alex Petrovic of the Red Deer Rebels, and puck-moving defenseman Troy Rutkowski of the Portland Winterhawks.

NHL teams seeking to add to their goaltending pipeline will have much interest in Seattle Thunderbirds' puckstopper Calvin Pickard, who happens to be the No.1 ranked North American draft-eligible goaltender in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings.

The 18-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, appeared in 62 games for a young Thunderbirds team in 2009-10, posting a solid .914 save percentage after playing the most minutes, facing the most shots and maki ng the most saves of any netminder during the season, and earned the WHL Western Conference nomination for the WHL Goaltender of the Year award.

A technically strong and athletic goaltender, Pickard has shown great poise and a terrific mental approach to the game that has helped him become one of the most consistent netminders in the League.

"Calvin has a very solid all-around game and a special competitive drive that makes him try for every puck in every circumstance, setting him apart from all other goalies at our level," said Seattle Thunderbirds' general manager Russ Farwell. "He is also a great teammate who never loses sight of his role and the teams priorities."

Other WHL goaltenders who could hear their names called on NHL draft day include Medicine Hat Tigers' Tyler Bunz, who impressed with his strong post-season play this year, and Kent Simpson of the Everett Silvertips, who finished the 2009-10 regular season with the second-best goals-against average and save percentage in the WHL.

Two members of the Brandon Wheat Kings - Mark Stone and Michael Ferland - hope to hear their names called this weekend.

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Western Hockey League Stories from June 25, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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