WHL Top Players Ranked By NHL Central Scouting

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -Calgary, AB – The National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Service released their Fall Preliminary rankings of draft eligible players for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft with Spokane Chiefs’ rearguard taking the top spot among the WHL’s contingent.

Cowen, a 17-year-old from Allan, SK, is in his second full season in the WHL with the Chiefs, having helped lead the team to the WHL and Memorial Cup championship last season as a rookie.

The 6’ 5”, 218-lb rearguard possesses a combination of size and skill that makes him a top prospect for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Cowen boasts tremendous poise and hockey sense, and makes smart decisions with the puck. He also skates well for a big player, and possesses some promising offensive instincts.

Also among the WHL’s top-ranked players is Vancouver Giants’ 17-year-old star Evander Kane, who currently leads the WHL in scoring and ranks second behind Cowen. Brandon Wheat Kings forward and reigning WHL Rookie of the Year Brayden Schenn ranks third, while fellow Wheat King Scott Glennie is the fourth-ranked WHL skater. Rounding out the top five is Saskatoon Blades’ smooth-skating, offensive defenseman Stefan Elliott.

Rookie Kootenay Ice netminder Nathan Lieuwen ranks first among the WHL’s draft-eligible goaltenders. Lieuwen backstopped Canada’s Under-18 team to a Gold medal at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament in August.

Western Hockey League Preliminary Rankings - Fall 2008

Skaters

PLAYER TEAM BIRTHDAY HT WT POS SHOT
1 Jared Cowen Spokane 25-Jan-91 6-foot-4.75 218 D L
2 Evander Kane Vancouver 2-Aug-91 6-foot-1 180 C L
3 Brayden Schenn Brandon 22-Aug-91 6-foot 193 C L
4 Scott Glennie Brandon 22-Feb-91 6-foot-1 180 C R
5 Stefan Elliott Saskatoon 30-Jan-91 6-foot-0.25 185 D R
6 Carter Ashton Lethbridge 1-Apr-91 6-foot-4.75 212 RW L
7 Tommi Kivisto Red Deer 7-Jun-91 6-foot-0.5 198 D L
8 Tyson Barrie Kelowna 26-Jul-91 5-foot-10.25 188 D R
9 Landon Ferraro Red Deer 8-Aug-91 5-foot-11 169 C R
10 Ryan Button Prince Albert 26-Mar-91 6-foot-0.25 185 D L
11 Jimmy Bubnick Kamloops 19-Jan-91 6-foot-1.5 188 C R
12 Burke Gallimore Saskatoon 8-Jan-91 5-foot-11.5 195 RW R
13 Cass Mappin Red Deer 20-Dec-90 6-foot 186 LW L
14 Ryan Howse Chilliwack 6-Jul-91 5-foot-10.75 195 LW L
15 Brayden McNabb Kootenay 21-Jan-91 6-foot-3.5 200 D L
16 Tomas Vincour Edmonton 19-Nov-90 6-foot-2 203 C R
17 Garrett Mitchell Regina 9-Feb-91 5-foot-10 180 RW R
18 Adam Hughesman Tri-City 28-Feb-91 5-foot-10.5 185 LW L
19 Willie Coetzee Red Deer 7-Nov-90 5-foot-9.5 186 RW R
20 Cody Eakin Swift Current 25-May-91 5-foot-10.75 180 C L
21 Brodie Melnychuk Brandon 13-May-91 6-foot-3.5 196 D L
22 Collin Bowman Kelowna 13-Jun-91 6-foot-2.25 200 D R
23 Stepan Novotny Kelowna 21-Sep-90 6-foot-1.5 190 RW R
24 Dalibor Bortnak Kamloops 17-Feb-91 6-foot-3.5 185 C L
25 Brennan Yadlowski Lethbridge 17-Jun-91 6-foot-0.5 174 D R

Goaltenders

PLAYER TEAM B IRTHDAY HT WT POS CATCH
1 Nathan Lieuwen Kootenay 8-Aug-91 6-foot-4.75 188 G R
2 Jon Groenheyde Kamloops 4-Apr-91 6-foot-3 195 G L
3 Damien Ketlo Regina 29-Jan-91 5-foot-11.5 178 G L
4 Darcy Kuemper Red Deer 5-May-90 6-foot-3.5 195 G L
5 Jamie Tucker Vancouver 18-Apr-91 5-foot-10.75 160 G L

If you like the daily news of the Raw Feed, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to the nation's only alternative professional sports magazine, SZ, with original features and great action photography in baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. Just $11.99 per year for an e-zine like you’ve never seen!