Weinstein, De Luca earn spots on NHL CSS midterm rankings ahead of 2023 draft
Two Spokane Chiefs, defenseman Saige Weinstein and forward Tommaso De Luca, were listed on the NHL Central Scouting Service’s midterm rankings in advance of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Weinstein was ranked 97th overall and De Luca 144th among North American skaters.
Weinstein, a 6-foot-1 blueliner out of Edmonton, Alta., is in his first year of NHL Draft eligibility and has 101 WHL games under his belt after playing all but nine games in his rookie season last year. Halfway through his second full season with the Chiefs, he has posted 15 total points on four goals and 11 assists — already surpassing his 2021-22 season total (1-13-14).
In August, Weinstein was one of 12 WHL players that helped Canada win gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with a 4-1 victory over Sweden. He was named to the Central Scouting’s “Players to Watch” list ahead of the 2022-23 season, earning a “C” ranking.
De Luca, a 6-foot centerman originally from Aosta, Italy, was selected by the Chiefs with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 WHL Import Draft. With 30 total points so far this season, De Luca currently ranks fourth among the league’s rookies. He is also tied for fourth in goals by WHL rookies with 12 and is ranked fifth in assists with 18. He has been a consistent presence for the Chiefs this season as the team’s third-highest scorer and is averaging 0.86 points per game.
De Luca, born on December 29, 2004, is in his first year of NHL Draft eligibility.[related_links]
A total of 26 WHL forwards find themselves on the Mid-Term Rankings, joined by 16 WHL defensemen and nine WHL goaltenders, with 20 of 22 WHL Clubs represented on the full list.
The 2023 NHL Draft is scheduled to be held in Nashville, Tennessee from June 28-29, 2023.
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The Chiefs’ next home game is Saturday, January 21 versus the Victoria Royals. It’s Military Appreciation Night, presented by Pizza Factory! Tickets for January 21 and all regular season games are available online at spokanechiefs.com/tickets.
The Spokane Chiefs are a member of the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League, the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players. Since 1985 the Chiefs have been a pillar in the Spokane community, offering family-friendly entertainment and a winning tradition, which includes: two Memorial Cup Championships in 1991 & 2008, two WHL Championships in 1991 & 2008 and four Western Conference Championships in 1991, 1996, 2000 & 2008. Over 60 alumni have gone on to play in the National Hockey League.
