Central Scouting Releases Final Rankings

A great showing by WHL'ers in the Central Scouting final rankings just ahead of the NHL Entry draft. 10 of the top 30 North American skaters are from our league.

Also, a handful of Broncos cracked the list in the later rounds including a first time showing for Zack Smith and Dale Wiese. Finding 19 year-olds on the list is usually rare, unless they really did something from the past season.

Here's a look at WHL'ers in the top 30 and then a list of Broncos.

4. Tyler Myers - Kelowna

5. Luke Schenn - Kelowna

7. Kyle Beach - Everett

8. Zach Boychuk - Lethbridge

12. Luca Sbisa - Lethbridge

13. Colby Robak - Brandon

18. Colten Tuebert - Regina

24. Matt Calvert - Brandon

25. Jyri Niemi - Saskatoon

30. Kruise Reddick - Tri City

Other WHL Notables in top 50

31. Tyler Ennis - Medicine Hat

33. Jordan Eberle - Regina

35. James Wright - Vancouver

39. Michael Stone - Calgary

48. Brandon McMillan - Kelowna

Several Broncos in the middle:

71. Geordie Wudrick ( 69th midterm )

96. Matt Tassone (108th midterm)

108. Zack Smith (not ranked)

110. Jan Dalecky (109th midterm)

153. Dale Wiese (not ranked)

I can't really figure out Central Scouting sometimes. Eric Doyle was on the mid-term rankings yet not on the final rankings after what I thought was a solid end of the season.

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I'll be headed for the NHL draft in Ottawa in less than two months. Again I'll be covering it for our group of stations in Golden West Broadcasting. I consider myself pretty fortunate to attend the event every year. Our company makes a go of it and I'm thankful for the opportunity. Not many WHL PBP broadcasters get the opportunity to go. Last year, only myself and Rod Pedersen of the Pats attended the event. Well, Roddy made it to Columbus but he was a half hour shy of making it to the dance. I'll still count him in though. Hopefully his flight arrives a little earlier this year.

I'm a little extra excited this year. Sure it's back to Ottawa (same place as 2005), but the event itself has me anticipating big things for our guys. I've heard we could be well represented on the draft board as opposed to other years. In general, it's a great year for WHL talent and that adds an extra element to it.

In Columbus, I had to wait, and wait for the Broncos to hit the board. Finally Ryan Molle and Paul Postma were selected in the 7th and final round.

Ottawa is a beautiful Canadian city and everyone should make a stop there in their lifetime. The parliament buildings and the biward district is a pretty fun spot just off the city's downtown core.

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The Broncos are changing up their season tickets for next season. I will have a blog about that tomorrow. Eldon Moberg, the Broncos Assistant General Manager is also trumpeting this season as a big success from a business standpoint. I'll have some of his comments too.

Jon