Brunicke among WHLers participating in NHL Scouting Combine
Buffalo, N.Y.- Nineteen Western Hockey League players will get up close and personal with NHL brass at this week’s NHL Scouting Combine.
The combine, which runs from June 3-8, will see 100 top prospects (62 forwards, 35 defencemen and three goaltenders) undergo a final round of physical and medical assessments and interview with interested NHL clubs ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
“The NHL combine is the final showcase event before the NHL draft and it’s a week full of interviews, medicals and fitness testing where the players get to interact with NHL personnel and the NHL clubs get to learn as much as possible about the future stars of our game,” NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr told NHL.com
Highly touted WHL prospects include forwards Tij Iginla, Cayden Lindstrom and Berkly Catton, all of whom are ranked among NHL Central Scouting’s Top 10 North American skaters.
WHL Combine Participants (listed in alphabetical order)
F- Andrew Basha, Medicine Hat Tigers (NHL CSS: 26)
F- Ondrej Becher, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: 69)
D- Harrison Brunicke, Kamloops Blazers (NHL CSS: 52)
F- Berkly Catton, Spokane Chiefs (NHL CSS: 8)
F- Maxmilian Curran, Tri-City Americans (NHL CSS: 58)
D- Charlie Elick, Brandon Wheat Kings (NHL CSS: 31)
F- Tanner Howe, Regina Pats (NHL CSS: 41)
F- Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets (NHL CSS: 9)
F- Adam Jecho, Edmonton Oil Kings (NHL CSS: 22)
F- Ollie Josephson, Red Deer Rebels (NHL CSS: 40)
F- Cayden Lindstrom, Medicine Hat Tigers (NHL CSS: 3)
F- Miguel Marques, Lethbridge Hurricanes (NHL CSS: 53)
F- Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips (NHL CSS: 18)
F- Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: 15)
F- Ryder Ritchie, Prince Albert Raiders (NHL CSS: 19)
D- Colton Roberts, Vancouver Giants (NHL CSS: 36)
D- Tarin Smith, Everett Silvertips (NHL CSS: 38)
F- Carson Wetsch, Calgary Hitmen (NHL CSS: 50)
D- Carter Yakemchuk, Calgary Hitmen (NHL CSS: 11)
Participating players must complete a medical screening before taking part in fitness testing, which includes horizontal jumps, force plate vertical jumps, bench presses, pro agility test, pull ups and the Wingate Cycle Ergometer test.
Teams can schedule one-on-one interviews with athletes between June 3 and 7.
The San Jose Sharks hold the first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, with the remaining top ten selections as follows:
2. Chicago Blackhawks
3. Anaheim Ducks
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. Montreal Canadiens
6. NHL Utah
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Calgary Flames
10. New Jersey Devils
The 2024 NHL Entry Draft will be held at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nev. on June 28 and 29.