(Image credit: BCHL)

By Vernon Matters Staff

Junior hockey

Several BCHL products could be taken in NHL Draft, possible first rounder

Jun 27, 2023 | 11:00 AM

The 2023 NHL Entry Draft gets underway in Nashville, Tenn. Wednesday, June 28, with the opening round, followed by rounds 2 through 7 on Thursday.

Several BCHL players come into the draft ranked by NHL Central Scouting, and the following is an article from the BCHL profiling the top prospects.

Matthew Wood (F) – University of Connecticut (Victoria Grizzlies)

Ranked #4 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting

After leading the BCHL in scoring in 2021-22, being named a First-Team All-Star and finishing as a finalist for Most Valuable Player, all during his 16-year-old season, Wood received an exemption to play NCAA hockey a year early. In his freshman year at the University of Connecticut, as the youngest player in college hockey, the B.C. product compiled 34 points in 35 games and was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. Wood was born in Lethbridge, Alta. and played his minor hockey in Nanaimo.

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Quote:

“I’m an offensive threat. I can score from anywhere and I make good plays, giving guys pucks in the right areas. I’m able to create offence really well. Throughout the year, I developed really well defensively. I’ve turned into a responsible player that can play in any situation. I think all that is all going to translate.”

Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.

Bradly Nadeau (F) – Penticton Vees

Ranked #17 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting

Nadeau had an incredible second season in the BCHL in 2022-23. The New Brunswick native led the BCHL in scoring with 113 points, finished with the most assists with 68 and also tied for the league lead with 45 goals. This led to him winning the league’s Most Valuable Player award as well as the first ever Jeff Tambellini Trophy for playoff MVP, as he led the Penticton Vees to their second straight Fred Page Cup championship. Nadeau, along with his older brother Josh, will start his NCAA career at the University of Maine in the fall.

Quote:

“I’m a creative offensive forward. I have to work hard and compete because I’m not the biggest player on the ice. I think that my compete level allows me to perform up to my standard on the ice. There are other good players and, if you don’t work hard, you won’t make it to the next level.”

Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.

Aydar Suniev (F) – Penticton Vees

Ranked #40 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting

Another player who had an exceptional year for the Vees, Suniev tied for the league lead with 45 goals on the year and finished third in BCHL scoring with 90 points. The 18-year-old joined Penticton midway through the 2021-22 campaign and had an immediate impact, piling up 20 points in 17 games down the stretch. He was a key part of his team’s back-to-back league championships, especially the most recent one where he finished the postseason with nine goals, 14 assists and 23 points in 15 games. He is committed to play at the University of Massachusetts next year.

Quote:

“I’m a two-way player with lots of skill who can play on both sides of the puck. I like to generate offence and score goals. I think in the long run, I expect myself to be that kind of player.”

Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.

Hoyt Stanley (D) – Victoria Grizzlies

Ranked #85 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting

Stanley missed nearly all of the 2021-22 campaign due to injury in what was supposed to be his rookie year with the Victoria Grizzlies. He managed to get in 13 regular season games and another four in the playoffs and that seemed to give him the experience he needed to excel the following year. Stanley finished as the eighth highest scoring defenceman in the BCHL last year with 38 points in 53 games and was voted to the league’s All-Rookie Team. He is set to play next season at Cornell University.

Quote:

“I’m a two-way defenceman who is fast and has a high hockey IQ. I can contribute in all situations. At the pro level, I think I could play an all-around game.”

Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.

Owen Beckner (F) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Ranked #86 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting

Beckner was one of the most improved players in the BCHL last season. The Victoria-born forward had 10 points as a 16-year-old in his rookie year in 2021-22, but came back this past season as one of Salmon Arm’s go-to options and ended the season at nearly a point per game with 50 in 53 contests, tied for first in team scoring. He also had a solid postseason with 10 points in 15 games, helping the Silverbacks to the Interior Conference Final for the first time in franchise history. Beckner is returning to Salmon Arm in September, but is committed to play his college hockey at Colorado College.

Quote:

“I have a hockey brain. I can think at a quick pace. I’m a skilled player that can make plays in tight places and see things before they happen. I’m also a bigger guy who can skate well. That translates to the next level because you have to be able to think at a quick pace with the increase of speed.”

Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.

Charles-Alexis Legault (D) – Quinnipiac University (West Kelowna Warriors)

Ranked #179 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting

Legault played the 2021-22 season with West Kelowna and was a key member of a Warriors team that finished third in the league standings and made it to the Interior Conference Final. After a solid regular season, the Pierrefonds, Que. native had an even better postseason, putting up 11 points in 11 games. This past year as a freshman at Quinnipiac, Legault was an every day contributor, playing in 40 games and helping the team to a national championship in April. This is his third year of draft eligibility as we was ranked by Central Scouting back in 2021.

Quote:

“I’m a tall, puck-moving defenceman that has great skating abilities and is able to move pucks north quickly. I take pride in my one-on-one battles. I try to win the most I can and I think I’m pretty good at it. Defensively, I have a long stick and I’m able to defend with my feet. Offensively, I like to jump into the play when the time is right.”

Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.

Ryan Hopkins (D) – Penticton Vees

Ranked #199 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting

Hopkins was one of the top defencemen in the BCHL for both of his seasons in Penticton. As a first-year player, he had 31 points in 47 games and was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team. This past season, he finished as the third highest scoring defenceman in the league with 49 points and was named a Second-Team All-Star. He also won back-to-back Fred Page Cup championships during his BCHL stint. Hopkins is set to join the University of Maine in the fall.

Quote:

“I play a good two-way game. I pay attention to all my details in the defensive zone and I work hard in the corners and battle. I bring the offensive part of my game as well. I’ll be the third or fourth guy into the rush and be that second wave of offence. I’m good at getting pucks through to the net. It’s something that will translate pretty well. I think I can do what I do every time I go up a level.”

Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.

AJ Lacroix (F) – Chilliwack Chiefs

Unranked by NHL Central Scouting in their Final Rankings

Lacroix has remained consistent in his two BCHL seasons so far. He put up 40 points as a 16-year-old rookie in 2021-22, then followed that up with a 44-point campaign this past season. Where Lacroix really turned heads was in the 2023 postseason. The 18-year-old led the Chiefs in playoff scoring with 17 points in 15 games after scoring eight goals and adding nine assists, leading Chilliwack to an appearance in the Coastal Conference Final. Lacroix appeared on Central Scouting’s October and January rankings, but was left off of their final list in April.

Quote:

“My game is somewhat of a Swiss Army Knife. I’m a player that’s willing to compete 110 per cent in any zone. I’m someone who cares about the small details, is a physical player, has a high IQ and likes to make plays offensively. I’m not afraid of playing in the hard corners of the ice, but I also like to play at a fast pace.”

Click here to read his NHL Draft Q&A.

Several players committed to BCHL teams next year are also ranked by NHL Central Scouting.

#73 North American skater – Larry Keenan (F) – Penticton Vees (Culver Military Academy)
#90 North American skater – Francesco Dell’Elce (D) – Penticton Vees (St. Andrew’s College)
#128 North American skater – Conner MacPherson (F) – Penticton Vees (Leamington Flyers)
#189 North American skater – Chase Pirtle (F) – Victoria Grizzlies (Mount St. Charles Academy)
#211 North American skater – Ryan MacPherson (F) – Penticton Vees (Leamington Flyers)

by Vernon Matters Staff