The National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Bureau has released its first ‘watch list’ of the season and a Chilliwack Chief is on it.
No surprise that Harrison Blaisdell’s hot start has earned him notice. The 17 year old forward has six goals and 10 points in his first 10 games, and is nearly halfway to last season’s totals (49-9-12-21) already.
The Regina native is the son of ex-NHLer Mike Blaisdell, who played 349 big-league games with the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Harrison is assigned a C grade on the watch list, indicating a player projected to be selected in the fourth-through-sixth rounds of the NHL draft.
Alex Newhook of the Victoria Grizzlies is assigned an A grade, which projects him as a first-round pick.
Forward Massimo Rizzo of the Penticton Vees and defenceman Layton Ahac of the Prince George Spruce Kings receive B grades, indicating potential second or third round picks.
Other BCHLers on the list, all receiving C grades, are forwards Ethan Leyh of the Langley Rivermen, Alex Swetlikoff of the Vernon Vipers and Alexander Campbell of the Grizzlies.
Brendan Budy, a winger who spent the last two seasons with Langley and is now at Denver University, also made the list.
The 2019 CJHL Prospects Game, which Blaisdell is almost certain to play in, is scheduled for Jan. 22 in Okotoks, Alberta.