Evan Gardner (pictured) of the Saskatoon Blades has jumped up from 16th at mid-season to seventh spot on the final Central Scouting North American goaltenders list ahead of this year’s N-H-L Draft. Saskatoon product and Spokane centre Berkly Catton is ranked eighth amongst North American skaters. Like Gardner with goaltenders, Catton is the second highest-rated W-H-Ler. Prince Albert Raiders’ winger Ryder Ritchie slots in at 19th overall.

In addition, Ritchie and fellow forward Roger McQueen, a Saskatoon product, get to have their 2023-24 seasons continue as the two are among seven W-H-Lers named to play for Canada at the World Under-18 Men’s Championship next week in Finland. Catton would’ve also been invited, but had to decline due to injury. Following are news releases from the W-H-L regarding Central Scouting rankings and Canada’s World Under-18 team selections…..

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 16th: Gardner slotted seventh amongst North American goaltenders in final NHL Central Scouting’s rankings

Saskatoon, SK – The honours continue to pile up for Saskatoon Blades rookie netminder Evan Gardner. The Fort St. John, BC product has been ranked seventh amongst North American goaltenders on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, previously ranked 16th in January.

Gardner’s enjoyed one of the best rookie seasons any player has had in a Blades uniform. The East Division finalist for WHL Rookie of the Year went 21-5-0-2 with a league-leading 1.91 goals-against average and .927 save percentage. The 6-foot-2 netminder tied fellow Saskatoon goalie Austin Elliott for second in the WHL with four shutouts.

The 18-year-old was named WHL Rookie of the Week on Monday for the third time this season. Gardner posted a 2-0 record between Apr. 8th and Apr. 14th with a 0.88 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage. Saskatoon’s 2021 third-round pick also received WHL Goalie of the Week during the regular season and is the reigning WHL Player of the Month for his performance in March.

Gardner is 6-0 in the playoffs this spring with a 1.42 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. The NHL draft-eligible goalie has won his last 15 consecutive starts dating back to Jan. 31st in a 9-1 win over the Regina Pats. Gardner’s been perfect at SaskTel Centre this season going 18-0 on home ice.

The Blades are in Red Deer for games 3 and 4 of their best-of-seven second round series this week against the Rebels. The Blades lead the series 2-0 with Game 3 set for Tuesday, April 16th, followed by Game 4 the following evening. Puck drop for both games is 7:00pm.

NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING LISTS 57 WHL PLAYERS IN FINAL RANKINGS FOR 2024 NHL DRAFT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024

Calgary, Alta. – Fifty-seven Western Hockey League players have been listed by NHL Central Scouting in its Final Rankings ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft, the WHL confirmed Tuesday.

Medicine Hat Tigers forward Cayden Lindstrom leads the way, with the Chetwynd, B.C. product ranked third among North American skaters.

The Final Rankings were revealed by NHL Central Scouting on Tuesday morning.

2024 NHL DRAFT PROSPECTS – VIDEO & PHOTO ASSETS

Seven WHL skaters are listed within the top 20 North American skaters, including Lindstrom, Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs), Tij Iginla (Kelowna Rockets), Carter Yakemchuk (Calgary Hitmen), Terik Parascak (Prince George Cougars), Julius Miettinen (Everett Silvertips) and Ryder Ritchie (Prince Albert Raiders).

Four WHL netminders ranked in the top 10 North American Goaltenders- Lukas Matecha (Tri-City-Americans), Dawson Cowan (Spokane Chiefs), Evan Gardner (Saskatoon Blades) and Chase Wutzke (Red Deer Rebels).

All 22 WHL clubs are represented in the Final Rankings. The Calgary Hitmen lead the way with five ranked players, while the Edmonton Oil Kings, Everett Silvertips, Medicine Hat Tigers and Spokane Chiefs have four players ranked. Five more teams, the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Prince George Cougars, Red Deer Rebels, Regina Pats and Victoria Royals have three ranked players each.

Thirty-five WHL forwards are ranked, followed by 16 WHL defencemen and six WHL goaltenders.

The 57 WHLers recognized are tied with the Ontario Hockey League for the most listed players in the Canadian Hockey League. In total, 149 CHL players are listed, including 57 from the OHL and 35 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

2023-24 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings – WHL Skaters

Rank	Last Name	First Name	Hometown	Team	Height	Weight	Position
3	Lindstrom	Cayden	Chetwynd, B.C.	Medicine Hat	6’3.25	210	C
8	Catton	Berkly	Saskatoon, Sask.	Spokane	5’10	170	C
9	Iginla	Tij	Lake Country, B.C.	Kelowna	5’11.75	182	C
11	Yakemchuk	Carter	Calgary, Alta.	Calgary	6’2.75	201	D
15	Parascak	Terik	Lethbridge, Alta.	Prince George	5’11.5	173	RW
18	Miettinen	Julius	Helsinki, Fin.	Everett	6’2.5	203	C
19	Ritchie	Ryder	Kelowna, B.C.	Prince Albert	5’11.75	175	RW
22	Jecho	Adam	Zlin, Cze.	Edmonton	6’4.75	197	C
26	Basha	Andrew	Calgary, Alta.	Medicine Hat	5’11	174	LW
31	Elick	Charlie	Calgary, Alta.	Brandon	6’3.25	194	D
36	Roberts	Colton	Maple Ridge, B.C.	Vancouver	6’3.75	192	D
38	Smith	Tarin	Porcupine Plane, Sask.	Everett	6’1	175	D
40	Josephson	Ollie	Victoria, B.C.	Red Deer	6’0	178	C
41	Howe	Tanner	Prince Albert, Sask.	Regina	5’9.5	175	LW
50	Wetsch	Carson	North Vancouver, B.C.	Calgary	6’0.25	190	RW
52	Brunicke	Harrison	Calgary, Alta.	Kamloops	6’2.5	184	D
53	Marques	Miguel	Prince George, B.C.	Lethbridge	5’10.75	173	RW
58	Curran	Maxmillian	Prague, Cze.	Tri-City	6’2.5	198	RW
63	Gojsic	Hiroki	Langley, B.C.	Kelowna	6’2.75	198	RW
64	Mrsic	Tomas	Surrey, B.C.	Medicine Hat	5’11.25	170	C
69	Becher	Ondrej	Ostrava, Cze.	Prince George	6’1	184	C
77	Caswell	Clarke	Brandon, Man.	Swift Current	5’10.75	170	LW
84	Jamieson	Eric	Calgary, Alta.	Everett	6’2.5	199	D
86	Laing	Hunter	Kelowna, B.C.	Prince George	6’5.25	205	C
89	Misskey	Nate	Melfort, Sask.	Victoria	6’3.25	210	D
93	McIsaac	William	Vancouver, B.C.	Spokane	6’3	192	D
107	Mayes	Nathan	Salmon Arm, B.C.	Spokane	6’3.75	194	D
111	Thorpe	Tyler	Richmond, B.C.	Vancouver	6’4	209	RW
112	Alcos	Parker	Port Moody, B.C.	Edmonton	6’2.5	180	D
119	Mistelbacher	Luke	Steinbach, Man.	Swift Current	5’11.75	195	RW
134	Buttazzoni	Diego	Langley, B.C.	Portland	5’9	183	C
136	Heslop	Jesse	Nanaimo, B.C	Everett	5’10.5	171	LW
138	Fawcett	Keets	Grimshaw, Alta.	Calgary	5’9.75	167	RW
141	Cooper	Miles	Calgary, Alta.	Wenatchee	5’9.75	163	C
146	Pederson	Rhys	Stettler, Alta.	Edmonton	6’3.75	194	D
150	Vaughan	Jaxsin	Merritt, B.C.	Regina	6’0.75	206	RW
155	Vaughan	Corbin	Merritt, B.C.	Regina	6’0	205	D
157	Zakreski	Josh	Saskatoon, Sask.	Portland	5’10.5	188	LW
160	Lovsin	Simon	Stony Plain, Alta.	Seattle	5’11.5	176	RW
161	Smith	Shane	Cessford, Alta.	Medicine Hat	6’0.25	194	C
170	Edwards	Brayden	Abbotsford, B.C.	Lethbridge	6’0	186	C
176	McKenzie	Pavel	Cumberland House, Sask.	Moose Jaw	6’0	186	C
179	Valliant	Chase	Surrey, B.C.	Calgary	6’0.25	174	C
187	Drancak	Samuel	Strakonice, Cze.	Red Deer	5’11.25	185	C
202	Pickford	Bryce	Chauvin, Alta.	Seattle	5’11.5	170	D
204	Williams	Dax	Calgary, Alta.	Calgary	6’0	190	D
206	Fryer	Seth	Victoria, B.C.	Victoria	6’6.5	197	D
212	Hadland	Caleb	Sylvan Lake, Alta.	Brandon	5’9.75	174	LW
216	Fluker	Josh	Boissevain, Man.	Wenatchee	6’0	160	D
223	Hodnett	Gavin	Winnipeg, Man.	Edmonton	5’6.5	158	LW
224	Ward	Landen	Lloydminster, Alta.	Lethbridge	6’2.75	200	LW

2023-24 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings – WHL Goaltenders

Rank	Last Name	First Name	Hometown	Team	Height	Weight	Position
3	Matecha	Lukas	Pardubice, Cze.	Tri-City	6’3	196	G
5	Cowan	Dawson	Warren, Man.	Spokane	6’1.75	186	G
7	Gardner	Evan	Fort St. John, B.C.	Saskatoon	6’0	175	G
9	Wutzke	Chase	Calgary, Alta.	Red Deer	6’1.75	158	G
27	Unger	Jackson	Calgary, Alta.	Moose Jaw	6’1.25	185	G
29	Tamelin	Ryan	Invermere, B.C.	Victoria	6’8	201	G

SEVEN WHL PLAYERS TO REPRESENT HOCKEY CANADA AT 2024 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024

Calgary, Alta. – A total of seven Western Hockey League players have been selected to represent Canada at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland.

Hockey Canada announced the National Men’s Under-18 Team Tuesday morning.

Five WHL Clubs will be represented on the 2024 Canadian National Men’s Under-18 Team. The Brandon Wheat Kings and Calgary Hitmen boast two players each, while the Kamloops Blazers, Medicine Hat Tigers and Prince Albert Raiders are also represented.

The 2024 IIHF World U18 Championship is scheduled to be played from Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, May 5 in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland.

Canada’s Men’s National Under-18 Team – WHL Players

Last Name	First Name	Team	Hometown	Ht	Wt	Pos
Brunicke	Harrison	Kamloops Blazers	Calgary, Alta.	6’3”	187	D
Hamilton	Reese	Calgary Hitmen	Whitewood, Sask.	6’0”	170	D
Elick	Charlie	Brandon Wheat Kings	Calgary, Alta.	6’3”	199	D
McKenna	Gavin	Medicine Hat Tigers	Whitehorse, Yukon	6’0”	183	F
McQueen	Roger	Brandon Wheat Kings	Saskatoon, Sask.	6’5”	190	F
Ritchie	Ryder	Prince Albert Raiders	Kelowna, B.C.	6’0”	173	F
Wetsch	Carson	Calgary Hitmen	North Vancouver, B.C.	6’2”	187	F

Invited to the roster but unable to participate are forwards Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs / Saskatoon, Sask.) and Cayden Lindstrom (Medicine Hat Tigers / Chetwynd, B.C.).

The roster was selected by Hockey Canada head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.) and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), senior manager of hockey operations. The evaluation process included input from goaltending consultant Justin Pogge (Penticton, B.C.) and analytics consultant Gianfranco Giuliano (Toronto, Ont.), in addition to the entire scouting staff.

Four WHL players – Elick, McQueen, Ritchie, and Wetsch – return to Canada’s U18 team after helping their nation capture gold at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Canada’s coaching staff features assistant coach Ryan Smith (Spokane Chiefs / Headingley, Man.) and goaltending coach Dan De Palma (Kamloops Blazers / Kamloops, B.C.). The support staff includes athletic therapist Jimmy McKnight (Edmonton Oil Kings / Barrie, Ont.) and Dr. Michael Conrad (Victoria Royals / Vancouver, B.C.).

“We are excited to bring this calibre of young athletes together to begin working with our coaching staff,” Roy said. “Having players who already know how to compete in a short-term tournament will also bring valuable experience and leadership to our team in our quest for a gold medal.”

Prior to the start of the tournament, Canada will play two pre-tournament games against Finland on Saturday, April 20 and Norway on Tuesday, April 23. Tournament play begins Thursday, April 25 at 10 a.m. MT when Canada faces Sweden. Canada will take on Czechia on Friday, April 26, Switzerland on Sunday, April 28, and Kazakhstan on Tuesday, April 30 to close out preliminary-round action. The semifinals are set for Saturday, May 4, with the tournament and medal games concluding Sunday, May 5.

TSN and RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broad cast partners, will air select games, including all Team Canada games and all playoff-round games. Check your local listings for details.

Since 2002, Canada has won four gold medals as the IIHF U18 World Championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021), in addition to one silver (2005) and four bronze (2012, 2014, 2015, 2023).