NHL central scouting identifies Troops
BRAMPTON, Ont. – Nick Paul and Mark Raycroft of the Brampton Battalion are among 25 Ontario Hockey League skaters on the preliminary list of the National Hockey League’s central scouting service for the 2013 NHL Draft, it was announced Tuesday.
Left winger Paul is ranked 19th among OHL skaters, while defenceman Raycroft is 24th.
Paul, who turns 18 on March 20, has scored three goals and earned seven assists for 10 points in 24 games this season. The Troops’ fifth-round choice, 95th overall, in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection is strong on the puck and does solid work in the offensive corners, physically outmatching opponents.
“It helps the confidence a little,” said Paul. “It’s still early in the season, and there’s lots of hockey left to play before it’s said and done. You’ve got to kind of keep it behind you and not focus on it, because nothing is final.”
Paul played last season with his hometown Mississauga Reps major midgets, recording 56 points in 36 games after going unselected in his first year of OHL eligibility. He played nine games with the junior A Mississauga Chargers, registering five points, including three goals.
“It’s showing me that what I’m doing is paying off for me right now,” he said of NHL scouts’ notice. “I’ve just got to keep going. Nothing should stay the same from here. If I want to get drafted, I have to keep getting better and better.”
Raycroft, also in his first season with the Battalion, has two assists in 19 games. He was the club’s second of two sixth-round selections, 121st overall, in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection from the Brantford 99’ers minor midgets and played last season with the junior B St. Thomas Stars.
“It’s a definite confidence boost to go along with our five-game winning streak,” said Raycroft, a resident of Woodstock, Ont., who turns 18 on April 18. “It’s great to be recognized by central scouting.”
Raycroft took a view similar to that of Paul about being ranked.
“It’s something that’s definitely on your mind. At the same time, though, you can’t let it get to you. You need to channel it into your confidence on the ice and just keep playing your game out there.
“You can’t play nervous or you’ll make mistakes on the ice, so I’m just going to keep it simple and play my game.”
Centre Sean Monahan of the Ottawa 67’s, a Brampton resident, is ranked No. 1 on the OHL list.
