
Winterhawks Are Well-Represented by NHL Central Scouting
January 25, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
The Portland Winterhawks are proud to announce three players are named on NHL Central Scouting's Players to Watch List for the 2021 NHL Draft.
Second-year forwards Jack O'Brien, Tyson Kozak and Simon Knak all made the updated list that was released on January 22. This July, Portland will look to add to its impressive list of 142 players selected in the NHL Entry Draft in program history.
O'Brien received a 'B' rating by NHL Central Scouting after an impressive 2019-20 season. In 55 games with the Winterhawks, the centerman from Denver, CO finished first among Portland rookies with 14 goals and his 30 points put him 14th on the WHL rookie scoring list.
Just last year, Winterhawks forward Seth Jarvis was given a 'B' rating by NHL Central Scouting and he was eventually drafted in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Kozak and Knak were both recognized as a 'C' rated prospects for the 2021 NHL Draft. Kozak flourished during his first season in Portland, scoring 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points, and he was second on the team in face-off percentage. Knak led all Portland rookies with 34 points in 49 games and he represented Switzerland at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championships.
In total, 36 WHL players are on the Players to Watch List and the Portland Winterhawks are tied for the most representatives among WHL Clubs.
2021 NHL Central Scouting 'Players to Watch' - WHL Players
PTW Last Name First Name Team Height Weight Position
A Cossa Sebastian Edmonton 6'5" 207 G
A Guenther Dylan Edmonton 6'0" 166 RW
A Korczak Ryder Moose Jaw 5'10" 164 C
A Lambos Carson Winnipeg 6'0" 200 D
A Roulette Conner Seattle 5'11" 161 LW
A Sillinger Cole Medicine Hat 6'0" 190 C
B Allan Nolan Prince Albert 6'1" 174 D
B O'Brien Jack Portland 6'0" 154 C
B Stankoven Logan Kamloops 5'8" 170 C
C Alarie Eric Moose Jaw 6'1" 197 LW
C Bankier Caedan Kamloops 6'1" 164 C
C Boyko Talyn Tri-City 6'6" 184 G
C Busygin Yaroslav Brandon 6'3" 172 D
C Chiasson Jake Brandon 6'1" 165 C
C Ciona Lucas Seattle 6'2" 201 LW
C Dach Colton Saskatoon 6'2" 186 C
C Englot Drew Regina 6'2" 194 RW
C Grubbe Jayden Red Deer 6'2" 192 C
C Iorio Vincent Brandon 6'2" 191 D
C Jordan Cole Moose Jaw 6'0" 173 D
C Knak Simon Portland 6'1" 194 LW
C Kosior Landon Prince Albert 5'11" 190 D
C Kozak Tyson Portland 5'10" 160 C
C Krebs Dru Medicine Hat 5'11" 167 D
C Lajoie Marc Tri-City 6'5" 226 D
C Masters Kyle Red Deer 5'11" 155 D
C Milne Michael Winnipeg 5'10" 182 LW
C Ostapchuk Zack Vancouver 6'3" 187 C
C Sedoff Christoffer Red Deer 6'1" 190 D
C Serhyenko Carter Prince Albert 6'4" 193 G
C Stringer Zack Lethbridge 6'0" 155 LW
C Sward Graham Spokane 6'2" 169 D
C Thomson Bryan Lethbridge 6'3" 179 G
C Tschigerl Sean Calgary 6'0" 179 LW
C Uchacz Kai Seattle 6'1" 190 C
C Zellweger Olen Everett 5'8" 162 D
Additionally, five unsigned Portland prospects topped the 2021 Players to Watch List, led by Winterhawks 2018 fourth-round WHL Bantam selection Chaz Lucius.
2021 NHL Central Scouting 'Players to Watch' - Winterhawks Prospects in the USHL
PTW Last Name First Name Team Height Weight Position
A Lucius Chaz USNTDP 6'0" 172 C
B Buium Shai Sioux City 6'4" 205 D
B Knies Matthew Tri-City 6'3" 205 LW
C Gasseau Andre USNTDP 6'4" 202 C
C Murchison Ty USNTDP 6'2" 189 D
Players have been identified using the following criteria:
A Rating - Indicates a first-round candidate
B Rating - Indicates a second- or third-round candidate
C Rating - Indicates a fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-round candidate
LV (Limited Viewing) - Injured players who have not had sufficient viewings to be categorized
Western Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2021
- Winterhawks Are Well-Represented by NHL Central Scouting - Portland Winterhawks
- Oil Kings Acquire Simon Kubicek from Seattle - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Blades Acquire Wyatt McLeod from Oil Kings for Conditional Pick - Saskatoon Blades
- Oil Kings Acquire Draft Pick from Saskatoon - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Iorio, Chiasson, Busygin Included on NHL Central Scouting 'Players to Watch' List for January - Brandon Wheat Kings
- WHL Statement on Kamloops Blazers Forward Kyrell Sopotyk - WHL
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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