A total of seven British Columbia Hockey League players have been identified on NHL Central Scouting's initial Watch List for the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft in Minneapolis, MN.
Coquitlam Express forward Destry Straight earned an 'A' rating from Central Scouting, which designates him as a 'must see' player who is predicted to be a potential First or Second round draft pick next summer. Straight has been a tremendous addition as a rookie in Coquitlam, where he has scored nine times and totalled 22 points thorugh 22 games.
“It's a fantastic recognition for Destry and for the Express organization,” head coach Jon Calvano says. “Destry has the ability to make plays at a high speed and he's got great vision. He's got an impressive skill set and he's shown very quickly that he has the ability to succeed at this level.”
Another Express forward, Mitchell Deacon, made the list with the 'C' rating given to players projected to be potential late round selections. Deacon has scored twice in 12 games as a BCHL rookie, and at six-foot-three already has the type of size that professional teams covet.
A foursome of Trail Smoke Eaters appear on the Watch List, with forward Sam Mellor leading the way with a 'B' rating as a potential Third to Fifth round selection. Linemate Travis St. Denis, forward Joey Baker and defenceman Eric Walker also made the cut with a 'C' rating.
Mellor and St. Denis sit 1-2 in team scoring and second and fifth amongst all BCHL scorers with 30 and 27 points respectively through 16 games. Baker, meanwhile, has one assist as a rookie who has been contributing on a checking line and as a member of the league's fourth-ranked penalty kill unit. Walker, who already has an NCAA commitment to Northern Michigan, is a six-foot-three defencemen known for his physical play.
“It's a pleasant surprise to have four players on the list,” says Trail head coach Jim Ingram. “I'm really happy for our guys and it's a big positive for our team.”
“St. Denis and Mellor are having great offensive years, and Joey is a big kid who has come in and has a ton of potential. He skates very well, he's a strong checker and he's done a good job killing penalties. He's going to physically mature a lot over the next year and he'll end up playing a very big role for us.”
“Eric is young but he plays with a real edge and he's worked very hard on his game. He's got a really good agressive game and with four years of college he's going to have lots of to develop into an excellent player.”
Westside Warriors blueliner Michael King is the BCHL's other 'B'-rated player, as the rookie blueliner has made a strong impression on scouts with his six-foot-four frame and puck-moving ability.
“Michael gets noticed first and foremost because of his size, but he's also very mobile and he sees the ice very well,” says Warriors head coach Darren Yopyk. “He's fit right in to our first power-play unit and he's got great poise — he tends to make the right play and he does a nice job of getting the puck through to the net.”
NHL Central Scouting will release their Mid-Term rankings in January and their final draft list in April.
Four BCHLers were selected at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, including Penticton Vees forward Beau Bennett in the first round by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
