The 2024 NHL Entry Draft in Las Vegas, Nev. starts tomorrow with Round 1 and continues with Rounds 2 through 7 on Saturday.
Like every year, several BCHL players come into the draft ranked by NHL Central Scouting. Today, we will take a look at the top prospects from the league.
The BCHL’s 2024 NHL Draft coverage is presented by Chevrolet.
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Jack Pridham (F) – West Kelowna Warriors
Ranked #65 among North American skaters
Pridham registered 49 points in 54 games during his first season with the Warriors, earning himself a spot on the league’s All-Rookie Team and a nomination for the BCHL’s Bruce Allison Trophy for Rookie of the Year. He was even more impressive in the playoffs, scoring eight goals in 10 games, including five in the first two games of Round 1. He is committed to Boston University, but will be returning to West Kelowna for the 2024-25 campaign.
Quote:
“I’m a skilled forward with good hockey sense, good skating and a good shot.”
Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.
Callum Hughes (F) – West Kelowna Warriors
Ranked #99 among North American skaters
Like his teammate Pridham, Hughes also enjoyed a banner rookie season in West Kelowna last year. After scoring 23 goals and adding 19 assists for 42 points in 52 games, he was listed on the BCHL’s All-Rookie Team at year’s end. The 18-year-old closed out his season with nine points in six postseason contests. He is also committed to Boston University, but, like Pridham, will be returning to the Warriors next year.
Quote:
“I’m a 200-foot player that is very skilled offensively, but I take pride in the defensive zone first. I won’t leave the zone early. I can really use my speed to my advantage. I’m pretty fast and I can use my shot as well. I also have a high IQ. I think those are things that separate me from other players.”
Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.
Matt Lahey (D) – Nanaimo Clippers
Ranked #110 among North American skaters
Lahey comes in as the highest-ranked BCHL defenceman on the Central Scouting list. The Victoria, B.C. product has played two years with the Clippers and took a significant step forward in his second campaign. After registering one assist his rookie year, he notched two goals and 17 helpers in 2023-24. He is committed to Clarkson University.
Quote:
“I’m a big puck-moving defenceman who can make plays in all three zones. I like to think of myself as someone who can be relied on in any situation.”
Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.
Logan Sawyer (F) – Brooks Bandits
Ranked #114 among North American skaters
The top-ranked out of three Bandits players on this year’s Final Rankings, Sawyer was a force in his first year of junior hockey. The Orangeville, Ont. native put up a combined 78 points in 2023-24 in 59 games played. He helped Brooks win the Alberta Cup playoffs and was named postseason MVP after racking up 15 points in 12 games. He is committed to Providence College.
Quote:
“I’m a skilled offensive forward. I have really good hockey IQ, so I use that to my advantage. I’m consistently able to make high-skilled plays at a high speed. Whenever I’m on the ice, I’m usually an offensive threat. I worked on my 200-foot game this year, so I put in a lot of work on the defensive side of the puck. I think I’m just going to keep on developing that, so I can turn into a complete player. I expect to be the same player in the next stage. I know that I’m good enough to do that.”
Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.
Luke Ashton (D) – Langley Rivermen
Ranked #123 among North American skaters
After going undrafted in his first year of eligibility, Ashton got on the scouting radar last year due to a breakout offensive season. In his first two years in the league with the Vernon Vipers, the 6-foot-6 blueliner totaled a combined two goals and nine points. In 2023-24 after joining the Langley Rivermen, Ashton led all BCHL defencemen with 18 goals, adding 18 assists to finish with 36 points. He is set to begin his college career next season at Minnesota State University.
Quote:
“I really like to be that solid, two-way defenceman, being physical, moving pucks up the ice, quick transitions. I’m a smart thinker in both zones. I want to pitch in on offence and make plays in the offensive zone. I love to use my size and I love to skate. In order to get to the NHL, I need to make sure I’m working hard every day. A lot of lessons that I’ve learned the past few years in the BCHL will help me hopefully transition into professional hockey one day.”
Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.
Chase Stefanek (F) – Trail Smoke Eaters
Ranked #166 among North American skaters
Stefanek broke onto the scene last year with the Smoke Eaters, playing alongside his older brother Jason. The younger Stefanek brother quickly adjusted to the league and put together a solid rookie campaign, finishing third in team scoring with 35 points in 54 regular-season games. He is committed to Harvard University.
Quote:
“I’m a complete player that plays both sides of the puck. I have great vision and can read plays the right way. Looking to the next level, with my hockey IQ, I can read the play at a faster rate than others, so I think my game would translate. With practice and hard work, I can improve on my skills and get them to an NHL calibre.”
Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.
Nathan Free (F) – Brooks Bandits
Ranked #186 among North American skaters
After an impressive rookie season with the Bandits in 2022-23 where he registered 35 points in 49 games, Free took a step forward in his second year with the team. He piled up 65 points in 60 games last year, adding another eight goals and five assists in 13 playoff contests during Brooks’ run to the Alberta Cup championship. Free has a scholarship to Penn State University, but has committed to return to the Bandits in 2024-25.
Quote:
“I’m a quick, shifty, offensive-minded player. I’m a good playmaker with a great shot. I think I can fit into any role I’m put in. I can adapt well to my linemates in whichever way a coach needs me. I think my game will translate as a playmaker, maybe even as a power-play guy. It all depends on what a coach might see or need.”
Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.
Connor MacPherson (F) – Penticton Vees
Ranked #195 among North American skaters
MacPherson entered the BCHL at the start of the 2023-24 season along with his twin brother Ryan. Ryan was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the sixth round last year, but Connor went undrafted. In his second year of eligibility, Connor notched 42 points in 54 games to tie for third in Vees scoring. Him and his brother will start their NCAA careers with the University of New Hampshire in the fall.
Quote:
“I see myself as a complete two-way forward. I can be a power forward. I can be more of a skill guy. I can be a shooter. I can make plays. I have a lot of options in my game where I can be used in any type of situation – defence, offence, neutral zone, faceoffs, whatever it may be.”
Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.
JJ Monteiro (F) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks
Ranked #197 among North American skaters
Monteiro put up 19 goals and 33 points in his rookie year with Salmon Arm in 2023-24, earning himself a spot as one of the Silverbacks representatives at the BCHL’s All-Star Tournament. During the team’s playoff run to the Interior Conference Finals, the 18-year-old had 12 points in 18 contests.
Quote:
“I would describe myself as a high-energy forward with a good motor. I’m always battling and competing for pucks down low. I stay on the walls for the breakout and I play with pace. I do a good job of finding my teammates as well. I have a nice shot. I’m a good skater. I have a high compete level and play with high energy. I just do what it takes to win.”
Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.
Keith McInnis (D) – Brooks Bandits
Ranked #213 among North American skaters
McInnis started his 2023-24 season with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL, but ended up joining Brooks midseason. The Red Deer, Alta. native notched 11 points in 20 BCHL games and was a key piece on the back end of his team’s Alberta Cup championship run. McInnis is committed to the University of North Dakota, but will be returning to Brooks for the 2024-25 campaign.
Quote:
“I would describe myself as a physical 200-foot defenceman who has strong defensive abilities and a strong stick. I have the ability to shut down plays. I would also say that my offensive game has grown a tremendous amount over the second half of my year in Brooks. As for the next level, I try to watch as many defencemen in the NHL as I can and I model my game after some of them.”
Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.
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Several other players that are committed to BCHL teams for 2024-25 are included on the Central Scouting Final Rankings.
#20 North American goalie – Jaden Cholette (G) – Mount St. Charles Academy (Cranbrook Bucks)
#127 North American skater – Ben Merrill (F) – St. Sebastian’s School (Penticton Vees)
#181 North American skater – Austin Moline (D) – Shattuck St. Mary’s (Brooks Bandits)
#207 North American skater – Drew Waterfield (F) – Shattuck St. Mary’s (Victoria Grizzlies)
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Other BCHL players who are on the draft radar this year include:
Riley Ashe (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)
Cooper Cleaves (Vernon Vipers)
Francesco Dell’Elce (Penticton Vees)
Gabriel Guilbault (Langley Rivermen)
Max Heise (Penticton Vees)
Tyler Hodges (Nanaimo Clippers)
Cole Longacre (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)
Patrick Murphy (Cranbrook Bucks)
Tobias Pitka (Victoria Grizzlies)
Noah Urness (Cranbrook Bucks)
Reid Varkonyi (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)