Evan Gardner (pictured) of the Saskatoon Blades has jumped up from 16th at mid-season to seventh spot on the final Central Scouting North American goaltenders list ahead of this year’s N-H-L Draft. Saskatoon product and Spokane centre Berkly Catton is ranked eighth amongst North American skaters. Like Gardner with goaltenders, Catton is the second highest-rated W-H-Ler. Prince Albert Raiders’ winger Ryder Ritchie slots in at 19th overall.
In addition, Ritchie and fellow forward Roger McQueen, a Saskatoon product, get to have their 2023-24 seasons continue as the two are among seven W-H-Lers named to play for Canada at the World Under-18 Men’s Championship next week in Finland. Catton would’ve also been invited, but had to decline due to injury. Following are news releases from the W-H-L regarding Central Scouting rankings and Canada’s World Under-18 team selections…..
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NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING LISTS 57 WHL PLAYERS IN FINAL RANKINGS FOR 2024 NHL DRAFT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024
Calgary, Alta. – Fifty-seven Western Hockey League players have been listed by NHL Central Scouting in its Final Rankings ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft, the WHL confirmed Tuesday.
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Cayden Lindstrom leads the way, with the Chetwynd, B.C. product ranked third among North American skaters.
The Final Rankings were revealed by NHL Central Scouting on Tuesday morning.
2024 NHL DRAFT PROSPECTS – VIDEO & PHOTO ASSETS
Seven WHL skaters are listed within the top 20 North American skaters, including Lindstrom, Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs), Tij Iginla (Kelowna Rockets), Carter Yakemchuk (Calgary Hitmen), Terik Parascak (Prince George Cougars), Julius Miettinen (Everett Silvertips) and Ryder Ritchie (Prince Albert Raiders).
Four WHL netminders ranked in the top 10 North American Goaltenders- Lukas Matecha (Tri-City-Americans), Dawson Cowan (Spokane Chiefs), Evan Gardner (Saskatoon Blades) and Chase Wutzke (Red Deer Rebels).
All 22 WHL clubs are represented in the Final Rankings. The Calgary Hitmen lead the way with five ranked players, while the Edmonton Oil Kings, Everett Silvertips, Medicine Hat Tigers and Spokane Chiefs have four players ranked. Five more teams, the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Prince George Cougars, Red Deer Rebels, Regina Pats and Victoria Royals have three ranked players each.
Thirty-five WHL forwards are ranked, followed by 16 WHL defencemen and six WHL goaltenders.
The 57 WHLers recognized are tied with the Ontario Hockey League for the most listed players in the Canadian Hockey League. In total, 149 CHL players are listed, including 57 from the OHL and 35 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
2023-24 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings – WHL Skaters
| Rank | Last Name | First Name | Hometown | Team | Height | Weight | Position |
| 3 | Lindstrom | Cayden | Chetwynd, B.C. | Medicine Hat | 6’3.25 | 210 | C |
| 8 | Catton | Berkly | Saskatoon, Sask. | Spokane | 5’10 | 170 | C |
| 9 | Iginla | Tij | Lake Country, B.C. | Kelowna | 5’11.75 | 182 | C |
| 11 | Yakemchuk | Carter | Calgary, Alta. | Calgary | 6’2.75 | 201 | D |
| 15 | Parascak | Terik | Lethbridge, Alta. | Prince George | 5’11.5 | 173 | RW |
| 18 | Miettinen | Julius | Helsinki, Fin. | Everett | 6’2.5 | 203 | C |
| 19 | Ritchie | Ryder | Kelowna, B.C. | Prince Albert | 5’11.75 | 175 | RW |
| 22 | Jecho | Adam | Zlin, Cze. | Edmonton | 6’4.75 | 197 | C |
| 26 | Basha | Andrew | Calgary, Alta. | Medicine Hat | 5’11 | 174 | LW |
| 31 | Elick | Charlie | Calgary, Alta. | Brandon | 6’3.25 | 194 | D |
| 36 | Roberts | Colton | Maple Ridge, B.C. | Vancouver | 6’3.75 | 192 | D |
| 38 | Smith | Tarin | Porcupine Plane, Sask. | Everett | 6’1 | 175 | D |
| 40 | Josephson | Ollie | Victoria, B.C. | Red Deer | 6’0 | 178 | C |
| 41 | Howe | Tanner | Prince Albert, Sask. | Regina | 5’9.5 | 175 | LW |
| 50 | Wetsch | Carson | North Vancouver, B.C. | Calgary | 6’0.25 | 190 | RW |
| 52 | Brunicke | Harrison | Calgary, Alta. | Kamloops | 6’2.5 | 184 | D |
| 53 | Marques | Miguel | Prince George, B.C. | Lethbridge | 5’10.75 | 173 | RW |
| 58 | Curran | Maxmillian | Prague, Cze. | Tri-City | 6’2.5 | 198 | RW |
| 63 | Gojsic | Hiroki | Langley, B.C. | Kelowna | 6’2.75 | 198 | RW |
| 64 | Mrsic | Tomas | Surrey, B.C. | Medicine Hat | 5’11.25 | 170 | C |
| 69 | Becher | Ondrej | Ostrava, Cze. | Prince George | 6’1 | 184 | C |
| 77 | Caswell | Clarke | Brandon, Man. | Swift Current | 5’10.75 | 170 | LW |
| 84 | Jamieson | Eric | Calgary, Alta. | Everett | 6’2.5 | 199 | D |
| 86 | Laing | Hunter | Kelowna, B.C. | Prince George | 6’5.25 | 205 | C |
| 89 | Misskey | Nate | Melfort, Sask. | Victoria | 6’3.25 | 210 | D |
| 93 | McIsaac | William | Vancouver, B.C. | Spokane | 6’3 | 192 | D |
| 107 | Mayes | Nathan | Salmon Arm, B.C. | Spokane | 6’3.75 | 194 | D |
| 111 | Thorpe | Tyler | Richmond, B.C. | Vancouver | 6’4 | 209 | RW |
| 112 | Alcos | Parker | Port Moody, B.C. | Edmonton | 6’2.5 | 180 | D |
| 119 | Mistelbacher | Luke | Steinbach, Man. | Swift Current | 5’11.75 | 195 | RW |
| 134 | Buttazzoni | Diego | Langley, B.C. | Portland | 5’9 | 183 | C |
| 136 | Heslop | Jesse | Nanaimo, B.C | Everett | 5’10.5 | 171 | LW |
| 138 | Fawcett | Keets | Grimshaw, Alta. | Calgary | 5’9.75 | 167 | RW |
| 141 | Cooper | Miles | Calgary, Alta. | Wenatchee | 5’9.75 | 163 | C |
| 146 | Pederson | Rhys | Stettler, Alta. | Edmonton | 6’3.75 | 194 | D |
| 150 | Vaughan | Jaxsin | Merritt, B.C. | Regina | 6’0.75 | 206 | RW |
| 155 | Vaughan | Corbin | Merritt, B.C. | Regina | 6’0 | 205 | D |
| 157 | Zakreski | Josh | Saskatoon, Sask. | Portland | 5’10.5 | 188 | LW |
| 160 | Lovsin | Simon | Stony Plain, Alta. | Seattle | 5’11.5 | 176 | RW |
| 161 | Smith | Shane | Cessford, Alta. | Medicine Hat | 6’0.25 | 194 | C |
| 170 | Edwards | Brayden | Abbotsford, B.C. | Lethbridge | 6’0 | 186 | C |
| 176 | McKenzie | Pavel | Cumberland House, Sask. | Moose Jaw | 6’0 | 186 | C |
| 179 | Valliant | Chase | Surrey, B.C. | Calgary | 6’0.25 | 174 | C |
| 187 | Drancak | Samuel | Strakonice, Cze. | Red Deer | 5’11.25 | 185 | C |
| 202 | Pickford | Bryce | Chauvin, Alta. | Seattle | 5’11.5 | 170 | D |
| 204 | Williams | Dax | Calgary, Alta. | Calgary | 6’0 | 190 | D |
| 206 | Fryer | Seth | Victoria, B.C. | Victoria | 6’6.5 | 197 | D |
| 212 | Hadland | Caleb | Sylvan Lake, Alta. | Brandon | 5’9.75 | 174 | LW |
| 216 | Fluker | Josh | Boissevain, Man. | Wenatchee | 6’0 | 160 | D |
| 223 | Hodnett | Gavin | Winnipeg, Man. | Edmonton | 5’6.5 | 158 | LW |
| 224 | Ward | Landen | Lloydminster, Alta. | Lethbridge | 6’2.75 | 200 | LW |
2023-24 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings – WHL Goaltenders
| Rank | Last Name | First Name | Hometown | Team | Height | Weight | Position |
| 3 | Matecha | Lukas | Pardubice, Cze. | Tri-City | 6’3 | 196 | G |
| 5 | Cowan | Dawson | Warren, Man. | Spokane | 6’1.75 | 186 | G |
| 7 | Gardner | Evan | Fort St. John, B.C. | Saskatoon | 6’0 | 175 | G |
| 9 | Wutzke | Chase | Calgary, Alta. | Red Deer | 6’1.75 | 158 | G |
| 27 | Unger | Jackson | Calgary, Alta. | Moose Jaw | 6’1.25 | 185 | G |
| 29 | Tamelin | Ryan | Invermere, B.C. | Victoria | 6’8 | 201 | G |
SEVEN WHL PLAYERS TO REPRESENT HOCKEY CANADA AT 2024 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024
Calgary, Alta. – A total of seven Western Hockey League players have been selected to represent Canada at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland.
Hockey Canada announced the National Men’s Under-18 Team Tuesday morning.
Five WHL Clubs will be represented on the 2024 Canadian National Men’s Under-18 Team. The Brandon Wheat Kings and Calgary Hitmen boast two players each, while the Kamloops Blazers, Medicine Hat Tigers and Prince Albert Raiders are also represented.
The 2024 IIHF World U18 Championship is scheduled to be played from Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, May 5 in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland.
Canada’s Men’s National Under-18 Team – WHL Players
| Last Name | First Name | Team | Hometown | Ht | Wt | Pos |
| Brunicke | Harrison | Kamloops Blazers | Calgary, Alta. | 6’3” | 187 | D |
| Hamilton | Reese | Calgary Hitmen | Whitewood, Sask. | 6’0” | 170 | D |
| Elick | Charlie | Brandon Wheat Kings | Calgary, Alta. | 6’3” | 199 | D |
| McKenna | Gavin | Medicine Hat Tigers | Whitehorse, Yukon | 6’0” | 183 | F |
| McQueen | Roger | Brandon Wheat Kings | Saskatoon, Sask. | 6’5” | 190 | F |
| Ritchie | Ryder | Prince Albert Raiders | Kelowna, B.C. | 6’0” | 173 | F |
| Wetsch | Carson | Calgary Hitmen | North Vancouver, B.C. | 6’2” | 187 | F |
Invited to the roster but unable to participate are forwards Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs / Saskatoon, Sask.) and Cayden Lindstrom (Medicine Hat Tigers / Chetwynd, B.C.).
The roster was selected by Hockey Canada head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.) and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), senior manager of hockey operations. The evaluation process included input from goaltending consultant Justin Pogge (Penticton, B.C.) and analytics consultant Gianfranco Giuliano (Toronto, Ont.), in addition to the entire scouting staff.
Four WHL players – Elick, McQueen, Ritchie, and Wetsch – return to Canada’s U18 team after helping their nation capture gold at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Canada’s coaching staff features assistant coach Ryan Smith (Spokane Chiefs / Headingley, Man.) and goaltending coach Dan De Palma (Kamloops Blazers / Kamloops, B.C.). The support staff includes athletic therapist Jimmy McKnight (Edmonton Oil Kings / Barrie, Ont.) and Dr. Michael Conrad (Victoria Royals / Vancouver, B.C.).
“We are excited to bring this calibre of young athletes together to begin working with our coaching staff,” Roy said. “Having players who already know how to compete in a short-term tournament will also bring valuable experience and leadership to our team in our quest for a gold medal.”
Prior to the start of the tournament, Canada will play two pre-tournament games against Finland on Saturday, April 20 and Norway on Tuesday, April 23. Tournament play begins Thursday, April 25 at 10 a.m. MT when Canada faces Sweden. Canada will take on Czechia on Friday, April 26, Switzerland on Sunday, April 28, and Kazakhstan on Tuesday, April 30 to close out preliminary-round action. The semifinals are set for Saturday, May 4, with the tournament and medal games concluding Sunday, May 5.
TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broad cast partners, will air select games, including all Team Canada games and all playoff-round games. Check your local listings for details.
Since 2002, Canada has won four gold medals as the IIHF U18 World Championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021), in addition to one silver (2005) and four bronze (2012, 2014, 2015, 2023).
