Mueller, Lotz Ranked by NHL Central Scouting
EVERETT – Defenseman Mirco Mueller and goaltender Austin Lotz of the Everett Silvertips have been included in the preliminary rankings of top draft-eligible Western Hockey League players for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau. Mueller was ranked seventh among WHL skaters, while Lotz was listed fourth among the league’s netminders.
Mueller, 17, was selected by Everett with the 11th overall pick in the 2012 CHL Import Draft. The poised, 6-foot-4 defenseman from Winterthur, Switzerland is currently tied for 14th among all WHL rookies with 11 points on two goals and nine assists in 25 games this season. He also ranks third on the Silvertips with a +4 plus/minus rating and fourth with 23 penalty minutes.
Lotz, 17, is currently in his second year with the Silvertips after debuting with the club as a 16-year-old rookie last season. The St. Adolphe, Manitoba native has won two of his last three starts, including his first career shutout in a 35-save effort against the Tri-City Americans on November 9th. He turned in a 2.97 goals-against average and a .901 saves percentage in four October starts and has posted a 3-8-0-1 record so far this season.
The Preliminary rankings from NHL Central Scouting list the top 25 draft-eligible skaters and as many as seven goaltenders from each of the top junior hockey leagues in North America, including the WHL, OHL, QMJHL and USHL. The initial ranking will then be revised in January with Central Scouting’s annual mid-term report.
CLICK HERE for the complete WHL preliminary rankings.
The Silvertips are back in action Wednesday night in Spokane against the Chiefs before returning to host a pair of home games over Thanksgiving weekend. Everett is set to battle the Kootenay Ice at 7:05 pm Saturday and the Kelowna Rockets at 5:05 pm Sunday at Comcast Arena.
Season tickets, mini-game packages and single-game tickets for the Silvertips’ 10th Anniversary season at Comcast Arena are on sale now. For more information call 425-252-5100. To keep up with all the latest team news and information, “like” the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter.
