2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game: WHL Scouting Reports
With on and off-ice testing underway ahead of the 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, NHL Central Scouting is pulling back the curtain on player evaluations.
NHL Central Scouting has provided scouting reports of all players invited to participate in Wednesday’s game, which serves as a best-on-best look at some of the top names to watch at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
18 WHL players were named to Top Prospects rosters, including Calgary Hitmen defenceman Carter Yakemchuk (ranked sixth among North American skaters), Spokane Chiefs star Berkly Catton (ranked ninth among North American skaters) and Kelowna Rockets breakout forward Tij Iginla (ranked 11th among North American skaters).
The 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game airs live in Canada from the Avenir Centre, home of the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats, on TSN, TSN.ca, the TSN App, RDS and RDS.ca on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT.
Viewers outside of Canada can catch all of the action on CHL TV or NHL Network (U.S. only).
Forwards
Andrew Basha- Medicine Hat Tigers (Team Red)
40 GP / 19 G / 59 PTS
In his third season with Medicine Hat in the WHL, a skilled prospect who has consistently produced offensively. Possesses high-end puck skills and can both make plays and score. Has impressive skating speed and agility to shake off and beat defenders. Moves smartly and smoothly with and without the puck. Always looking to get himself into scoring areas and can finish with an accurate shot. Excellent vision and creativity and can make difficult passes look easy. Controls the puck and can make plays with speed.
Berkly Catton- Spokane Chiefs (Team White)
41 GP / 28 G / 67 PTS
Former first overall pick in the WHL Draft and impacted as a 16-year-old rookie. A highly intelligent player that generates a lot of scoring chances and leads his team in scoring. Has excellent vision to go along with his high-end skill set. NHL skater with an explosive first step that allows him to evade checking and pull away from defenders. Plays an up-tempo game and is very clever at controlling the pace of the play while creating time and space to make plays. Can contribute in all three zones with his smarts and awareness. More of a playmaker than a scorer, but he has a good release and accurate shot to beat goalies.
Maxmilian Curran*- Tri-City Americans
35GP / 4G / 27PTS
A first-year import prospect playing in the WHL after developing in Czechia. A combination of size and skill who uses his reach effectively to control and protect the puck. A playmaker with good vision and the ability to find teammates in the offensive zone to set up goals. Has shown he is capable of playing all three forward positions, with good details to his game, including faceoffs and contributing on both the PK and PP special team units. A prospect whose game is continuing to grow and develop as he adapts to the North American game.
Tanner Howe – Regina Pats (Team Red)
39 GP / 21G / 47PTS
Tanner is playing in his 3rd full season in the WHL and was named Regina Captain at the start of the 23-24 season. He is a team leader in minutes played and plays a big role on special team units and gets utilized in all key situations; generates a high percentage of his team’s offensive production. He plays and competes bigger than his size and doesn’t back down in any situation. Tanner is quick, agile, smart & slick with the puck, and consistently creates scoring chances. Plays a smart and effective game without the puck creating steals and turnovers which he converts into offensive opportunities – always a dangerous scoring threat.
Tij Iginla- Kelowna Rockets (Team White)
38 GP / 27 G / 49PTS
Tij is a second-year WHL player now with the Kelowna Rockets after being traded from Seattle. He is the son of NHL HHOF legend Jarome Iginla. Tij is a talented and dynamic winger (can also play center) who has been an offensive impact player for the Rockets from the start of the season. Skating is an NHL asset with speed that puts defenders on their heels. He is strong and hungry on the puck and has an effective game along the boards and corners when battling for pucks. Provides a consistent offensive output as a creative playmaker and natural goal scorer who has that shoot-first mentality and possesses an excellent finishing shot with a very good release.
Adam Jecho- Edmonton Oil Kings (Team Red)
26 GP / 11G / 24PTS
First year playing in North America with the Edmonton Oil Kings after developing in both Czechia and Finland. Adam is an impressive combination of size and skill – good agility, dexterity and body control. He utilizes his good puck handling, reach, and frame to protect the puck and can get the shot off while being checked. He reads the play and creates offense in heavy traffic and while being checked. Developing into a power play asset that can distribute the puck, get scoring chances, and have an effective net-front presence. Adam is capable of playing both a physical and a finesse game and can beat defenders with both power and skill making him a challenge for defenders.
Ollie Josephson- Red Deer Rebels (Team Red)
38 GP / 4G / 28PTS
Ollie is in his second full season with the WHL Red Deer Rebels. He is a smart, versatile center that can be trusted in all situations and on special teams. He plays a very intelligent two-way game and has an effective puck distribution game in all zones. Very good in the faceoff circle and takes most of his team’s key draws. He reads the play extremely well and has good creativity and execution off the rush and on the powerplay as well as being a top-notch penalty killer. Ollie has the speed and quickness to slip around and beat defenders and has good hands and moves in tight and to the net. He competes, battles hard and does a lot of the little things very well.
Cayden Lindstrom- Medicine Hat Tigers*
32 GP / 27G / 46PTS
Cayden is in his second full season with the WHL Medicine Hat Tigers. He is an impressive physical package and has that rare combination of size, ability and athleticism. He is a strong skater with explosiveness who quickly creates separation with the puck and can pull away with the puck. He is a top-line player deployed in all key situations. Cayden is a versatile and competitive player that can beat you and make plays with both skill and natural power. He plays to win the battles and brings a consistent physical presence. An impact player, he has all the tools to both create and finish while playing his trademark hardworking and competitive game.
Julius Miettinen- Everett Silvertips (Team Red)
41 GP / 17G / 34PTS
A first-year center from Finland that plays a power-forward style game. Julius is strong on the puck with an effective puck control/protection game; he is hard to check and play against without the puck. He has a very good net front game on the powerplay and displays good hands in tight spaces. Effective in the offensive zone retrieving pucks, making plays and getting open for scoring chances – he can get his shot off quickly and score from the top of the blue paint. Good in the face-off circle. Potential to be a heavy and hard two-way center that can bring offense.
Terik Parascak- Prince George Cougars (Team White)
40 GP / 26G / 60PTS
A first-year WHL player that was a former fourth-round pick of Prince George, he has had a spectacular offensive start to his WHL career and continues to score at a high level. Terik displays a very high hockey IQ with and without the puck. One of those players with that innate ability to go to where the puck will be and always has an option in all zones. He is composed under pressure, connects with tape to tape passes and has shown a consistent finishing ability. One of the more naturally talented prospects in the 2024 draft class, he plays on both special teams and has deceptive speed & quickness that always makes him a scoring threat.
Ryder Ritchie- Prince Albert Raiders*
34GP / 13G / 31PTS
In his second WHL season with Prince Albert and the son of the former NHLer Byron Ritchie. Ryder is a high-end skater with very good puck skills and creativity. He is a high-character player who displays good patience and poise, and can out-wait, blow past or maneuver through defenders. Creative playmaker who can consistently set up plays and get pucks to teammates in good spots. Plays a smart game with and without the puck and has demonstrated the ability to make plays in all areas of the ice. A competitive player that wants the puck on his stick, he forces steals and turnovers and quickly turns them into chances the other way.
Carson Wetsch- Calgary Hitmen (Team White)
38 GP / 13G / 27PTS
Carson is in his second season with the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL. A versatile winger that can be deployed in all situations including special teams. He is a powerful skater with good balance and strength on his skates and possesses a heavy shot. Shows a good touch with the puck and can make clever, accurate passes under pressure. He gets to scoring areas and has a solid frame to protect pucks. He drives hard to the net, finishes his checks with authority and battles effectively in the corners. Carson plays a solid power forward style game.
Defencemen
Harrison Brunicke- Kamloops Blazers (Team Red)
40 GP / 8 G / 18 PTS
Good combination of size, skating and skill. Stepped his play up this season to earn a top-four role and be utilized in all situations. Good size and reach to defend, has an active stick to effectively disrupt the attack. Plays the body well and is willing to engage to defend himself and step up for his teammates. Good game handling & moving the puck in tight areas. Makes good zone exits and can dish the puck to either side. Likes to join the attack, and can generate offensive chances. Game is maturing and has made significant gains this year.
Charlie Elick- Brandon Wheat Kings (Team Red)
39 GP / 3 G / 17 PTS
Charlie is a big, right-shot defenceman playing his 2nd season with the Brandon Wheat Kings. A strong skater with good speed and balance, and who moves well in all directions. Effective utilizing his size/strength assets to provide a physical presence in board battles and net front game, consistently finishes his hits and can deliver the heavy hit. Good game carrying the puck up ice and making plays in the offensive zone. An excellent defender who competes and battles with consistency and makes good decisions and passes in the defensive zone. An impressive combination of size and skating with the ability to shut down opponents.
Colton Roberts- Vancouver Giants (Team Red)
40 GP / 7G / 19PTS
Playing in his second full season with Vancouver in the WHL. Colton is a big, right-shot, skating, puck-moving defenceman that has made significant strides this season and has a big upside. He has the size, reach and physical assets to finish his checks and to defend effectively and with a purpose. He plays big minutes on the top pairing and is utilized in all situations. Plays the top on the powerplay or as a shooter, moves the puck around quickly and efficiently to make plays. Colton makes the good first outlet pass, connects with the long stretch pass and joins the rush smartly where he can also beat attackers with his puck skills and skating.
Carter Yakemchuk- Calgary Hitmen (Team White)
37 GP / 16G / 40PTS
In his third WHL season with the Calgary Hitmen. Carter is a big, mobile and active defenseman who often leads his team in time-on-ice. A strong skater that likes to have the puck on his stick, he is a confident puck carrier that will look to transport the puck up ice. He has the ability to beat defenders 1on1 with speed and dangles. He is deployed on special team units and is a huge asset on the powerplay from the offensive zone blue line. Carter can drive his teams’ offence as he distributes the puck well and creates scoring chances for teammates with his accurate and creative reads. In the defensive zone, he can handle speed off the rush and win battles along boards and at the net front. Carter has an NHL tool set.
Goaltenders
Dawson Cowan- Spokane Chiefs (Team White)
10-13-2-0 / 3.30 GAA / .908 save percentage
In his second full season in the WHL, originally drafted by the Winnipeg Ice and traded to the Spokane Chiefs at the start of the 22-23 season. Dawson is a good-sized, strong and competitive goalie who plays with confidence and focus. He has good command of his crease and gets square to shots. Smart at reading and reacting to situations with quickness – he’s quick to flare out the pads when dropping in the butterfly. Strong on wraparound attempts and in tight situations to gather up loose pucks. Tracks pucks through traffic well and knows how to handle and move pucks. He is developing into a very good goalie prospect.
Lukas Matecha- Tri-City Americans (Team Red)
10-11-1-1 / 2.93 GAA / .912 save percentage
A first-year WHL goalie after developing in Czechia. Lukas has a huge presence in the net with good angles and positioning. He covers a lot of net even when he’s down in the butterfly. A smart and confident goalie who reads and reacts to situations well. He is tough to beat low with good butterfly sealing the ice and five-hole while extending his pads to protect the low corners. A well-balanced stance and moves throughout the crease efficiently and challenges smartly. He’s got good quickness and is especially quick when flaring out the pads – has the ability to make key saves for his team.
*Unable to participate due to injury