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Wenatchee Wild

Wild Players Fluker, Cooper Recognized on Final NHL Central Scouting Rankings

April 16, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release


Wenatchee Wild forward Miles Cooper
Wenatchee Wild forward Miles Cooper
(Wenatchee Wild, Credit: Russ Alman)

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee Wild, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL), are excited to announce that 2006-born forward Miles Cooper and 2006-born defenseman Josh Fluker have been recognized by National Hockey League Central Scouting as part of its final rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft. NHL Central Scouting announced its final rankings Tuesday, with all junior hockey regular seasons in the United States and Canada now complete. The United States Hockey League and North American Hockey League both wrapped up their regular seasons this past weekend.

Cooper was recognized as the 141st-ranked North American skater ahead of this summer's NHL Draft, currently scheduled for June 28 and 29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The Calgary, Alberta native has been on the NHL draft radar throughout his first full WHL season, appearing in 65 of Wenatchee's 68 games and finishing with 18 goals and 28 assists. His 46 points ranked fifth on the roster, and earned him the team's Rookie of the Year honors for the year.

Fluker wraps up the season ranked 216th among North American skaters. The Boissevain, Manitoba native joined the Wild January 4 in a trade from the Swift Current Broncos, making 64 appearances between the two teams this year and totaling three goals and 12 assists. Fluker and Cooper both earned "C" rankings on NHL Central Scouting's early-season watch list, projecting them to be selected in the fourth or fifth round, and appeared again on the NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings in January.

A total of 410 players worldwide were ranked, divided between players on North American and international teams, and further divided between goaltenders and skaters. Seven WHL players were ranked among the top 20 North American skaters, led by Medicine Hat's Cayden Lindstrom at third, while Tri-City's Lukas Matecha ranks third among draft-eligible North American goaltenders - three WHL goaltenders are among the top 10 in the final rankings. In all, 57 WHL players were noted in the rankings, tying the Ontario Hockey League for the most among the three Canadian Hockey League member circuits. All 22 WHL teams had at least one player listed in Tuesday's final rankings.

The Wild saw their first WHL campaign conclude with 36 wins across a memorable regular season and postseason. Season tickets are on sale for the 2024-25 campaign - updated news and information on Wild hockey are always available through the team's website and on the team's social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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Images from this story

Wenatchee Wild defenseman Josh Fluker
Wenatchee Wild defenseman Josh Fluker
(Russ Alman)		 Wenatchee Wild forward Miles Cooper
Wenatchee Wild forward Miles Cooper
(Russ Alman)		  

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