Straight Among Top BCHL Talent for 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Thursday, June 23, 2011 - Submitted by BCHL MEDIA
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft starts Friday from the Xcel Energy Centrer in St. Paul, Minn. and a select group of BCHL players, along with one grad, are hoping to hear their names called.
A total of seven players, six who played in the league this past season, are listed in the final Central Scouting rankings of North American skaters.
Highest on the list is Victoria Grizzlies forward Joel Lowry. The son of former NHLer and current Calgary Flames assistant Dave, the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder saw his stock rise at the end of the season with strong playoff showing. He is slated 95th among Canadian and U.S. skaters and is committed to Ivy League Cornell University for the fall.
Just behind him is Destry Straight of the Coquitlam Express who is listed at 100th. Straight topped the list of BCHLers for most of the year but was surpassed in the latest rankings. Straight was the Coastal Conference Rookie of the Year after putting up 26 goals and 41 assists in 59 games this year. He is headed to Boston College next season.
Vernon Vipers alum and Boston University standout Sahir Gill is next on the list. The Terrace native notched six goals and 19 assists in his rookie season with the Terriers which put him sixth in team scoring.
Also listed are Westside Warriors defenceman Michael King, Victoria Grizzlies forward Pearce Eviston, Vernon Vipers defenceman Ryan Renz and Trail Smoke Eaters right winger Joey Baker.
"NHL scouts continue to give our league a hard look and we're pleased a number of our players will be selected this weekend," said BCHL commissioner John Grisdale. "Professional and college scouts increasingly view our league as a rich source of talent for the next level."
The NHL Entry Draft now consists of just seven rounds. The list including the above players is for North American skaters only. No BCHL netminders were listed in the goalie rankings. While the final rankings are an excellent indicator, past years have seen players selected on draft day who were not listed in the final rankings.
