Five Hitmen Named in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings
Five Calgary Hitmen Players have been listed by NHL Central Scouting in it’s Final Rankings or the 2024 NHL Draft. Players ranked amongst North Americans Skaters are Carter Yakemchuk (#11), Carson Wetsch (#50), Keets Fawcett (#138), Chase Valliant (#179), and Dax Williams (#204).
The final rankings list is compiled by NHL Central Scouting and splits prospects into both North American (NA) and International categories.
RANK #11 ⇓ (midterm #6) : CARTER YAKEMCHUK (’05) – DEFENCE
HOMETOWN: Calgary, AB
DOB: September 29, 2005
HEIGHT: 6’3
WEIGHT: 201lbs
SHOOTS: Right
Coming in at number 11 is Carter Yakemchuk. The defenceman joined the Hitmen after being drafted by Calgary in the third round (65th overall) in the 2020 WHL Prospects draft. He was named to the 2024 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game back in January. Yakemchuk had a record-breaking year, making history with the most goals recorded by a Hitmen defenceman in a single season, beating the previous record of 24 set by Jake Bean 2015-16 season. The 18 year-old finished the season second in team scoring with a career high 71 points (30g, 41a) and lead all WHL defencemen with 30 goals. Most recenlty he was nominated for the Bill Hunter award, being named the WHL Central Division Defenceman of the Year.
RANK #50 ⇓ (midterm #44): CARSON WETSCH (’06) – FORWARD
HOMETOWN: North Vancouver, BC
DOB: May 5, 2006
HEIGHT: 6’0
WEIGHT: 190lbs
SHOOTS: Right
Carson Wetsch joined the Hitmen after being drafted by Calgary 12th overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects draft. The 17-year-old finished the 2023-24 campaign with 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points, more than doubling his point production from the previous season. The forward won a gold medal with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup last August and was just named to Canada’s National Men’s under-18 team for the 2024 IIHF World Championship. Wetsch was also selected for the 2024 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game alongside teammate Carter Yakemchuk, representing Team White.
RANK #138 ⇑ (midterm #163): KEETS FAWCETT (’06) – FORWARD
HOMETOWN: Grimshaw, AB
DOB: February 23, 2006
HEIGHT: 5’10
WEIGHT: 170lbs
SHOOTS: Left
Jumping up to number 138, Fawcett is 2006-born forward Keets Fawcett. Undrafted, Fawcett was listed and signed by the Calgary Hitmen and made team out of training camp. He finished his rookie season with an impressive 45 points (19g,26a) in 65 games.
RANK #179 ⇑ (midterm #195): CHASE VALLIANT (’06) – FORWARD
HOMETOWN: Surrey, BC
DOB: May 18, 2006
HEIGHT: 6’1
WEIGHT: 180lbs
SHOOTS: Left
Also jumping up in the rankings is Chase Valliant coming in at number 179. Drafted in the third round (58th overall) by the Calgary Hitmen in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Chase Valliant has proved himself to be a two way centre in his rookie season. Sidelined for 2 months with an upper body injury, the forward had a strong return and finished out the season with 20 points (6g,13a).
RANK #204 ⇑ (midterm #211): DAX WILLIAMS (’05) – DEFENCE
HOMETOWN: Calgary, AB
DOB: September 28, 2005
HEIGHT: 6’1
WEIGHT: 195lbs
SHOOTS: Left
In his second full season with the Calgary Hitmen, defenceman Dax Williams has become a stalwart on the Hitmen’s backend. Drafted by the club in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft in the sixth round (121st overall), the product from Calgary has tripled his point production from his previous season with 20 points (4g,16a) and finished with a plus/minus of +18.
The 2024 NHL Draft will be held from June 28–29 at Sphere in Las Vegas.
57 WHL players named to Final Rankings for 2024 NHL Draft