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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks' Trio Named to First NHL Central Scouting Watch List

October 25, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland, Ore. - The Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club is proud to recognize three current players who have been named to NHL Central Scouting's preliminary 'players to watch' list ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft. The draft is set to take place next June with location and other details still to be finalized.

Forwards Diego Buttazzoni and Josh Zakreski, as well as goaltender Jan Špunar, were recognized on today's list after strong starts to the season with Portland.

NHL Central Scouting is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they are projected to translate to the professional game.

Buttazzoni earned a C rating on this initial list, signifying him as a projected 4th- or 5th-round selection at this time. The Langley, B.C. native has started the season on a tear with points in all nine games played, logging eight goals and five assists in that span. Often skating alongside 20-year-olds Gabe Klassen and James Stefan, Buttazzoni has taken on a significant role in the team's offense after a strong 16-year-old season last year. Originally selected in the second round, #37 overall, of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft by Medicine Hat, Buttazzoni was acquired via trade prior to the 2022-23 campaign.

Zakreski and Špunar each picked up W ratings, projecting them as 6th- or 7th-round picks at the first checkpoint. A late-2005-born skater, Zakreski enters his first draft-eligible season with parts of two WHL seasons under his belt. After skating in 11 games during the 2021-22 season, Zakreski joined the team full-time as a 17-year-old and put up 25 points in his rookie campaign. His positive momentum has rolled into the new season, as he ranks sixth in team scoring with 12 points in nine games.

Špunar is in his third draft-eligible season and his second with the Winterhawks. The Olomouc, CZE native is 7-0-0 through seven consecutive starts during the 2023-24 campaign, with a CHL-leading 1.05 GAA and .958 save percentage, and picked up WHL Goaltender of the Week honors on Oct. 15. Špunar has also represented the Czech Republic at the Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-20 levels of competition, most recently competing at the 2022 Four Nations Tournament and the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

In total, 63 WHL players were named to the preliminary list. The complete list of ranked WHL skaters and goalies follows below.

2023-24 NHL Central Scouting 'Preliminary Players to Watch' - WHL Players

Rating Last Name First Name Hometown Team Ht Wt Pos

A Catton Berkly Saskatoon, Sask Spokane Chiefs 5'11" 170 C

A Howe Tanner Prince Albert, Sask. Regina Pats 5'10" 182 LW

A Jecho Adam Zlin, Czechia Edmonton Oil Kings 6'5" 201 C

A Lindstrom Cayden Chetwynd, B.C. Medicine Hat Tigers 6'3" 210 C

A Ritchie Ryder Calgary, Alta. Prince Albert Raiders 6'0" 175 RW

A Yakemchuk Carter Calgary, Alta. Calgary Hitmen 6'3" 190 D

B Basha Andrew Calgary, Alta. Medicine Hat Tigers 5'11" 184 LW

B Curran Maximilian Prague, Czechia Tri-City Americans 6'3" 179 C

B Elick Charlie Calgary, Alta. Brandon Wheat Kings 6'3" 200 D

B Iginla Tij Lake Country, B.C. Kelowna Rockets 6'0" 186 C

B Josephson Ollie Victoria, B.C. Red Deer Rebels 6'0" 185 C

B Parascak Terik Lethbridge, Alta. Prince George Cougars 6'0" 176 RW

B Roberts Colton Maple Ridge, B.C. Vancouver Giants 6'4" 198 D

B Wetsch Carson North Vancouver, B.C. Calgary Hitmen 6'0" 187 RW

C Alcos Parker Port Moody, B.C. Edmonton Oil Kings 6'3" 180 D

C Brunicke Harrison Calgary, Alta. Kamloops Blazers 6'2" 185 D

C Buttazzoni Diego Langley, B.C. Portland Winterhawks 5'9" 183 C

C Caswell Clarke Brandon, Man. Swift Current Broncos 5'11" 170 LW

C Cooper Miles Calgary, Alta. Wenatchee Wild 5'10" 163 C

C Cowan Dawson Warren, Man. Spokane Chiefs 6'2" 185 G

C Davidson Hyde Edmonton, Alta. Seattle Thunderbirds 6'2" 165 D

C Fluker Josh Boissevain, Man. Swift Current Broncos 6'0" 160 D

C Gojsic Hiroki Langley, B.C. Kelowna Rockets 6'3" 198 RW

C Hadland Caleb Sylvan Lake, Alta. Brandon Wheat Kings 5'10" 174 LW

C Howell Marek Calgary, Alta. Vancouver Giants 6'3" 201 D

C Marques Miguel Prince George, B.C. Lethbridge Hurricanes 5'11" 173 RW

C McIsaac William Vancouver, B.C. Spokane Chiefs 6'3" 192 D

C Miettinen Julius Helsinki, Finland Everett Silvertips 6'3" 205 C

C Mrsic Tomas Surrey, B.C. Medicine Hat Tigers 5'11" 170 C

C Pickford Bryce Chauvin, Alta. Seattle Thunderbirds 6'0" 170 D

C Titlbach Adam Litvinov, Czechia Vancouver Giants 5'9" 164 C

C Ward Landen Lloydminster, Alta. Lethbridge Hurricanes 6'3" 200 LW

LV Spilka Vasyl Leberec, Czechia Medicine Hat Tigers 6'2" 185 C

W Doyle Tristen Bonnyville, Alta. Lethbridge Hurricanes 5'9" 177 D

W Drancak Samuel Strakonice, Czechia Red Deer Rebels 5'11" 185 C

W Fryer Seth Victoria, B.C. Victoria Royals 6'7" 197 D

W Gardner Evan Lake Country, B.C. Saskatoon Blades 6'0" 175 G

W Gudelj Jake Vancouver, B.C. Tri-City Americans 6'2" 192 C

W Kral Lukas Sadska, Czechia Spokane Chiefs 6'0" 172 LW

W Kubiesa Matej Frydek-Mistek, Czechia Prince Albert Raiders 5'11" 171 RW

W Laing Hunter Kelowna, B.C. Prince George Cougars 6'5" 205 C

W Lovsin Simon Stony Plain, Alta. Seattle Thunderbirds 6'0" 176 C

W Martin Grady Oyen, Alta. Prince Albert Raiders 6'3" 193 C

W Matecha Lukas Paradubice, Czechia Tri-City Americans 6'3" 194 G

W Mayes Nathan Salmon Arm, B.C. Spokane Chiefs 6'4" 194 D

W McMillan Deagan Vernon, B.C. Tri-City Americans 6'2" 187 RW

W Meneghin Harrison South Surrey, B.C. Lethbridge Hurricanes 6'3" 164 G

W Michaluk Cooper Edmonton, Alta. Spokane Chiefs 6'2" 173 G

W Misskey Nate Melfort, Sask. Victoria Royals 6'3" 210 D

W Ness Brady Sedgewick, Alta. Moose Jaw Warriors 6'3" 199 D

W Peardon Cole Outlook, Sask. Prince Albert Raiders 6'0" 175 C

W Pederson Rhys Stettler, Alta. Edmonton Oil Kings 6'4" 193 D

W Petr Dominik Ostrava, Czechia Brandon Wheat Kings 6'2" 167 C

W Smith Shane Cessford, Alta. Medicine Hat Tigers 6'0" 194 C

W Smith Tarin Porcupine Plain, Sask. Everett Silvertips 6'1" 175 D

W Spunar Jan Olomouc, Czechia Portland Winterhawks 6'3" 185 G

W Tastad Morgan Loreburn, Sask. Saskatoon Blades 6'3" 185 D

W Thorpe Tyler Richmond, B.C. Vancouver Giants 6'4" 209 RW

W Unger Jackson Calgary, Alta. Moose Jaw Warriors 6'1" 185 G

W Vaughan Jaxsin Merritt, B.C. Regina Pats 6'1" 206 RW

W Vaughan Corbin Merritt, B.C. Regina Pats 6'0" 205 D

W Wilke Trae Saskatoon, Sask. Lethbridge Hurricanes 6'0" 191 LW

W Zakreski Josh Saskatoon, Sask. Portland Winterhawks 5'11" 188 LW

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