FIVE GMEN ON NHL CSS FINAL RANKING

FIVE GIANTS RANKED BY NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2023

Photos by: Rob Wilton

Vancouver, B.C. – The NHL Central Scouting Service released their Final Player Rankings list this morning and five Vancouver Giants were on the list. Please note that these rankings are all among “North American Skaters”, as the list is based on where the players are currently playing, not where they are from. Vancouver has the second highest total number of players on the list in the WHL with 5, only behind the Seattle Thunderbirds who have 6 players listed.

Samuel Honzek – #9 – Slovak Import Samuel Honzek is the fourth ranked WHL skater and ninth overall among North American skaters, after being given an “A” rating in the preliminary rankings and being ranked 9th in the Midterm rankings. The 10th Overall pick in the CHL Import Draft finished second on the Giants in scoring with 23 goals and 33 assists for 56 points in just 43 games.

Jaden Lipinski – #49 – The 6’3″ centre from Scottsdale, AZ played in the Kubota CHL Top Prospects game in January and finished the season with 51 points in 66 games.

Ty Halaburda – #89 – Last week, Halaburda was named to Canada’s U18 team after recording 37 points in 2022/23. He opened the scoring in a team-high seven games this season.

Mazden Leslie – #125 – The Lloydminster, AB native is the only Giants defenceman on the list. The 2020 Giants first rounder had 18 points on the powerplay this season, and 50 points overall. He had a hat trick against the Prince George Cougars on March 1.

Tyler Thorpe – #223 – Thorpe began the season in Jr. B, but the 6’5” forward was signed by the Giants in November and established himself as a dominant physical player as a rookie. This is Thorpe’s first appearance on an NHL Central Scouting list.