NHL Central Scouting released its Final Draft Rankings ahead of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft on Thursday with three AJHL Players among those listed.
Okotoks Oilers forward Rieger Lorenz (Calgary, AB) has moved up in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings for the upcoming Entry Draft, while first-year defenceman Nick Wolfenberg (Calgary, AB) has made his first appearance on the list, the agency released today.
Lorenz, 17, moved up to 17th among North American skaters, by far the highest ranking for a CJHL or any Canadian Junior A player, and seven spots higher than his 24th midterm ranking. 11 players from the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) are among those listed.
The University of Denver commit was the 5th-highest scoring player in the AJHL this season with 85 points (38 goals, 47 assists) in 60 games, setting franchise records for points and goals by a rookie. He was recently named a nominee for the CJHL’s Top Rookie award after previously winning the Dick White Trophy as AJHL Rookie of the Year.
Wolfenberg, 17, recorded 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) in 36 games in his debut campaign with the Oilers after being recruited from the Northern Alberta Xtreme of the CSSHL. Adding 93 penalty minutes in the injury-shortened campaign, the 6’2″, 200lb rearguard also scored 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 7 playoff games.
Bookman, 20, is in his second year with the Brooks Bandits and finished with 102 points (21g, 81a) in 60 games during the regular season. Through 9 playoff games, he’s tallied 10 points (2g, 8a).
The Syracuse, NY product set three League Records in his final games of the regular season and finished third overall in the AJHL Scoring Race. The Merrimack College commit led all AJHL defencemen and rookies in scoring, setting new AJHL Records for most points by a defenceman (102), most assists by a defenceman (81) and most assists by a rookie (81). He was named to the A
He was recognized twice as the Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week and four times as the Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week. Bookman (Syracuse, NY) was also a finalist for AJHL Rookie of the Year and won the team award as Top Defenceman.
He was named to the AJHL South All-Rookie Team and AJHL South All-League Team.
The 2022 NHL Draft is slated for July 7-8 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.