NEWS

Jack McBain of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens is the top-ranked Jr. A player in Canada for this year’s NHL draft. (Photo by Anatoliy Cherkasov / OJHL Images)

CALGARY, Alta. – National Hockey League Central Scouting released its mid-term rankings Monday for the 2018 NHL Draft this June in Dallas, Texas and 20 players from Canadian Junior Hockey League teams – including five from the Ontario Junior Hockey League – earned places on the list. That group features 17 CJHL skaters along with three goaltenders.

Topping the CJHL contingent among North American skaters is Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) centre Jack McBain, who was slotted 29th overall.

He was followed by defenceman Stanislav Demin of the Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) at No. 32.

Others in the Top 100 include a trio of blueliners in Jonathon Tychonick of the Penticton Vees (BCHL), Jacob Bernard-Docker of the Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) and Seth Barton of the Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL) who were ranked 45th, 62nd and 81st respectively.

Goaltender Matt Thiessen of the Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) is the top rated CJHL netminder in the mid-term rankings being listed 11th among goalkeepers in North America.

Of the group of 20 on this list, 19 of them were selected, in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting, to compete in the CJHL Prospects Game, which goes Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Port Credit Memorial Arena in Mississauga, Ont.

The following is the list of CJHL players and goaltenders on the NHL Central Scouting mid-term draft rankings:
SKATERS