Today NHL Central Scouting announced the midterm rankings for the 2019 NHL Draft, including three three AJHL skaters and two goaltenders. Congratulations forward Quinn Olson (Okotoks Oilers), defenceman Luke Bast (Brooks Bandits), forward Zachary Okabe (Grande Prairie Storm), and goaltenders Carter Gylander (Sherwood Park Crusaders) and Matthew Davis (Spruce Grove Saints).
Olson is the highest ranked AJHL player, ranked at #154 among North American skaters, with Bast close behind at #158 and Okabe at #201. Gylander is listed at #12 overall among North American goaltenders and Davis holds the #30 spot. All five players will have their talents on display as members of Team West at the CJHL Prospects Game in Okotoks on Tuesday night.
26 current Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) skaters and goaltenders are among those ranked; the majority of these players will be competing in the annual CJHL Prospects Game.
A total of 88 players have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft directly from the Alberta Junior Hockey League and 20 AJHL Alumni have went on to win the coveted Stanley Cup. Brooks Bandits defenceman Cale Makar made history as the highest drafted AJHL Player when the Colorado Avalanche selected him 4th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Joe Colborne of the Camrose Kodiaks previously held the record when the Boston Bruins selected him 16th overall in 2008.