Kevin Sundher will be among 100 draft-eligible prospects attending the National Hockey League’s Scouting Combine, which takes place May 24-29 in Toronto.
In his second full season in the WHL, Sundher set career highs in goals (25) and points (61) while suiting up for all 72 regular season games.
The 17-year-old Surrey native stepped it up in the post-season and was arguably Chilliwack’s top skater. He had three goals and five points as his eighth-seeded Bruins forced the top seeded Tri-City Americans to six games in the first round.
He has had a tough time earning the respect of scouts, however. Sundher did not receive an invite to play in the annual CHL Top Prospects Game, and his Central Scouting Bureau ranking of 92nd (among North American skaters) is low.
Sundher will join an impressive list of prospects that includes likely first overall pick Taylor Hall of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires.
Plymouth Whalers centre Tyler Seguin is the odds on favourite to be the second overall pick, and he will also be at the combine.
Several top defencemen received invites, including Mark Pysyk of the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings and Regina’s Brandon Davidson.
Twenty one WHLers received invites, highlighted by Prince George forward Brett Connolly, a likely top 10 pick.
Two of Sundher’s Chilliwack teammates were not invited to the scouting combine, but could still hear their names called at the NHL entry draft in June.
Defenceman Tyler Stahl was ranked 96th overall by CSB, and forward Dylen McKinlay was rated 156th.
The NHL entry draft takes place June 25-26 at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.