Six of 67 W-H-L players listed by N-H-L Central Scouting in the agency’s final rankings ahead of the 2025 Entry Draft are of local interest.

Brandon centre and Saskatoon product Roger McQueen is ranked eighth overall amongst North American skaters while Macklin native and Victoria centre Cole Reschny is 25th. Another players from the Royals, Prince Albert product Jayden Kraus, is the 12th rated North American goaltender for the June 27 and 28 draft in Los Angeles. Two members of the Saskatoon Blades are listed – German left winger David Lewandowski is 51st while centre Hayden Harsanyi is 187th. In addition, Meadow Lake native and Kelowna left winger Dawson Gerwing is listed in the 99th spot overall amongst North American skaters. Following is the news release from the W-H-L…..

NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING INCLUDES 67 WHL PLAYERS IN FINAL 2025 NHL DRAFT RANKINGS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2025

Towering Seattle defenceman Radim Mrtka (Havlickuv, Cze. / Seattle Thunderbirds) is the top-ranked WHL skater at fifth overall.

Mrtka is the first WHL import player ranked in the top five since Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl (Cologne, Ger. / Kelowna Rockets) slotted in at fourth in 2019. He’s also the first WHL defenceman listed in the top five since Buffalo Sabres blueliner Bowen Byram (Cranbrook, B.C. / Vancouver Giants) was tagged at second overall in 2019.

Prince George Cougars fan-favourite and nominee for WHL Goaltender of the Year Joshua Ravensbergen is ranked first among all North American netminders after his sophomore season in the Northern Capital.

The North Vancouver, B.C. product, who has been projected as a potential first-round pick, is the first WHL goalie ranked first since Philadelphia Flyers prospect and fellow Goaltender of the Year finalist Carson Bjarnason (Carberry, Man. / Brandon Wheat Kings).

The final rankings were announced by NHL Central Scouting on Tuesday morning.

Nine WHL skaters were included in the first round of North American skaters, including Mrtka, Roger McQueen (Saskatoon, Sask. / Brandon Wheat Kings), Carter Bear (West St. Paul, Man. / Everett Silvertips), Jackson Smith (Calgary, Alta. / Tri-City Americans), 2024 WHL Champion Lynden Lakovic (Moose Jaw Warriors), Braeden Cootes (Sherwood Park, Alta. / Seattle Thunderbirds), Benjamin Kindel (Coquitlam, B.C. / Calgary Hitmen), Cole Reschny (Macklin, Sask. / Victoria Royals) and Blake Fiddler (Frisco, Texas / Edmonton Oil Kings).

Ravensbergen stands tall as the top North American goaltender, while Ondrej Stebetak (Jihlava, Cze. / Portland Winterhawks) clocks in at eighth.

In addition to Ravensbergen’s Del Wilson Memorial Trophy nomination, six more ranked skaters have been honoured as prestigious award nominees or conference All-Stars. Bear and Ravensbergen are members of the 2025 WHL Western Conference Second All-Star team, while Vancouver Giants Captain Mazden Leslie is a 2025 WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team member and finalist for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy for the WHL Defenceman of the Year. Kindel is a WHL Eastern Conference First Team All-Star member. Edmonton Oil Kings standout Lukas Sawchyn is up for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for WHL Rookie of the Year, while Victoria Royals netminder Jayden Kraus is among the finalists for the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy for WHL Humanitarian of the Year. Finally, top Red Deer Rebels blueliner Luke Vlooswyk is a top candidate for the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy for Scholastic Player of the Year.

Twenty-one of 22 WHL clubs are represented in the final rankings.

The Edmonton Oil Kings lead the way with five ranked players each, while the Calgary Hitmen, Medicine Hat Tigers, Portland Winterhawks, Red Deer Rebels, Seattle Thunderbirds, Swift Current Broncos, Tri-City Americans and Vancouver Giants all have four. The Brandon Wheat Kings, 2025 WHL regular season Champion Everett Silvertips, Kelowna Rockets, Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince George Cougars, Spokane Chiefs and Victoria Royals all have three players ranked.

NHL Central Scouting’s list features 11 WHL players invited to compete at the first-ever CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada in November of 2024. Roger McQueen was invited but was unable to participate due to injury. Lakovic and Cameron Schmidt (Vancouver Giants) each scored a goal and an assist in the two-game series, which the CHL swept. Reschny snagged the late game-winner in Game 2, while Kindel and Ravensbergen each added an assist at the event.

Across the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL leads the way with 67 players. The Ontario Hockey League is a close second with 64, while the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League has 39.

The NHL Scouting Combine will be held in Buffalo, N.Y., from June 1-8, 2025, before top players descend on the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif., for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 27 and 28.

Twenty-two ranked skaters are in the midst of the chase for the Ed Chynoweth Cup with the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien with four second-round series underway.

Fans can watch the NHL’s stars of tomorrow for free on Victory+.

2024-25 NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings – WHL Skaters

2024-25 NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings – WHL Goaltenders