NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2022 National Hockey League Draft on Thursday and the list features five players who participated in the 2021-22 BC Hockey League season. There are four skaters ranked and one goaltender. Additionally, five players committed to playing in the BCHL in 2022-23 are ranked.
The first round of the 2022 NHL Draft is set for July 7 with the second through seventh rounds on July 8 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. It’s the first time the draft won’t be conducted in a remote format since the 2019 event in Vancouver, BC.
West Kelowna Warriors defender Tyson Jugnauth is the top-ranked BCHL player at 66th among North American skaters. The 2004-born blueliner from Toronto, ON had nine goals and 50 points in 52 games as a sophomore with the Warriors this past season. He was named a BCHL First Team All-Star and the league’s Defensive Award as top defender. Jugnauth is committed to the University of Wisconsin for this September.
Penticton Vees defender Ryan Hopkins is ranked 101st among North American skaters. The 2004-born University of Maine commit was 10th in scoring among blueliners during the season with seven goals and 31 points in 47 games. The Lunenburg, NS product was named to the BCHL All-Rookie Team and has three assists in eight playoff games thus far for the Vees.
Cranbrook Bucks forward Tyson Dyck could be the franchise’s first NHL draft pick. He comes in at 110th among North American skaters after putting up 34 goals and 75 points in 54 games this past season. His efforts earned him BCHL All-Rookie Team honours and a spot on the BCHL First All-Star Team. The 2004-born Abbotsford, BC product hasn’t locked down an NCAA commitment as of this writing.
Wenatchee Wild forward Cade Littler slots in at 187th among North American skaters according to NHL Central Scouting. The 2004-born centre from East Wenatchee, WA notched 20 goals and 45 points in 50 games for the Wild this past season and was named to the BCHL All-Rookie Team. Littler has secured an NCAA commitment to Minnesota State University (Mankato) for September 2023.
Top-ranked goaltender and incoming players
Alberni Valley Bulldogs goaltender Hobie Hedquist is the 27th ranked North American goaltender in the final rankings. Hedquist, who’s expected to attend the University of North Dakota this fall, was 28-9-5 with a 2.53 goals-against average, a .909 save percentage, and five shutouts during this past season. The 2003-born Heron Lake, MN product was a BCHL Second Team All-Star and runner-up for the Top Goaltender award.
Noble and Greenough School forward Ben MacDonald is set to play with the West Kelowna Warriors in 2022-23 and is ranked 50th among North American skaters. The 2004-born Weston, MA centre tallied 29 points in 22 games for Noble and Greenough in 2021-22.
Chilliwack Chiefs commit Daimon Gardner is listed as the 97th ranked North American skater. Gardner, a 2004-born centre from Eagle Lake, ON, had 83 points in 30 games playing Minnesota high school hockey at Warroad this past season.
Defender Liam Steele, who’s committed to Chilliwack for this fall, is slotted in at 171st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The 2004-born blueliner from Cobham, GBR put up 30 points in 30 Quebec high school games at Stanstead College.
Kimball Union Academy defender Duncan Ramsay is also slated to join the Chiefs in 2022-23. He is ranked 206th by NHL Central Scouting. The 2004-born Haligonian notched 27 points in 33 games as the captain at Kimball, which is a prep school in New Hampshire.
Warriors commit Nolan Joyce of St. Sebastian’s School is NHL Central Scouting’s 214th ranked North American skater. Joyce, a 2003-born defender from Dedham, MA, scored 38 points in 25 prep school games at St. Sebastian’s this past season.
