No surprise, World Junior Championship M-V-P Alexis Lafreniere tops the list of North American skaters in Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings ahead of this June’s N-H-L Draft.

Meanwhile, 51 W-H-L players found their way onto the list ahead of the Draft in Montreal. Leading the way for the 51 are Raiders’ defenceman Kaiden Guhle in seventh spot, Prince Albert product and Brandon blueliner Braden Schneider in eighth place, Saskatoon product and Kamloops centre Connor Zary at 12th overall and Raiders’ right winger Ozzy Wiesblatt in 14th spot. A trio of Saskatoon Blades are on the list in newly-acquired defenceman Rhett Rhinehart, right winger Tristen Robins and goaltender Koen MacInnes. Following is the news release from N-H-L Central Scouting and the W-H-L…

51 WHL PLAYERS HIGHLIGHT NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING MIDTERM RANKINGS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2020

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League is proud to announce 51 WHL players have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for the 2020 NHL Draft. Headlining the most recent list of draft-eligible talent are nine WHL skaters inside the top 30 North American skaters as well as four of the top 10 North American goaltenders. At seventh on the list, defenceman Kaiden Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders / Sherwood Park, Alta.) is the top-ranked WHL skater while Brock Gould (Moose Jaw Warriors / Colorado Springs, Colo.) is the top-ranked WHL goaltender, coming in at fourth among North American goalies. In addition to Guhle, WHL skaters ranked inside the top 31 of North American skaters include defenceman Braden Schneider (Eighth – Brandon Wheat Kings / Prince Albert, Sask.), forward Connor Zary (12^th – Kamloops Blazers / Saskatoon, Sask.), forward Ozzy Wiesblatt (14^th – Prince Albert Raiders / Calgary, Alta.), forward Seth Jarvis (19^th – Portland Winterhawks / Winnipeg, Man.), defenceman Daemon Hunt (22^nd – Moose Jaw Warriors / Brandon, Man.), forward Justin Sourdif (23^rd – Vancouver Giants / Surrey, B.C.), forward Ridly Greig (25^th – Brandon Wheat Kings / Lethbridge, Alta.), and forward Jake Neighbours (30^th – Edmonton Oil Kings / Airdrie, Alta.). The Portland Winterhawks lead all WHL member Clubs with five players ranked. Jarvis is the top-ranked skater of the quintet, with Simon Knak (61^st – Zurich, Switzerland), Cross Hanas (65^th – Highland Village, Texas), Jonas Brndberg (107^th – Aalborg, Denmark), and Robbie Fromm-Delorme (165^th – Richmond, B.C.) also finding their way onto the NHL’s radar. The defending WHL Champion Prince Albert Raiders, Everett Silvertips, and Lethbridge Hurricanes, each have four players ranked. Six WHL member Clubs have a trio of players recognized while seven have a pair of players listed. The Kelowna Rockets and Prince George Cougars are represented by a single player each. Overall, the list includes 28 forwards, 15 defencemen, and eight goaltenders. The list includes the 14 players who are set to participate at the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game this coming Thursday in Hamilton, Ont. The 2020 NHL Draft will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Que. from June 26 to 27, 2020. 2020 NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING MIDTERM RANKINGS – WHL PLAYERS Skaters

Goaltenders