Three Warriors named to NHL Central Scouting preliminary players to watch list

With the way the first month of the season has gone for Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Yager, it should come as no surprise that the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Bureau has a high opinion of the standout forward.

On Tuesday, it all became official -- and Yager wasn’t alone among Moose Jaw players drawing attention from NHL scouts.

Yager was among seven Western Hockey League players to receive an ‘A’ rating on the NHL Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch list, meaning he’s expected to be selected in the first round of the Entry Draft this summer.

The Saskatoon product was joined by a pair of teammates on the list in forward Ben Riche and goaltender Jackson Unger, both of whom are ‘C’ ranked prospects, indicating a fourth-, fifth- or sixth-round selection.

As an example, Warriors defenceman Denton Mateychyuk was ranked ‘A’ on the first list last season and ended up as the 12th overall selection by the Columbus Blue Jackets this past July. Forward Jagger Firkus was rated ‘C’ in the opening look but clawed his way up the list all season and was eventually projected to go in the first round before landing 35th overall with the Seattle Kraken.

Yager, of course, is the reigning CHL Rookie of the Year after putting up 34 goals and 59 points in 63 games last season. He’s off to a solid start in 2022-23, with four goals and 12 points in 10 games.

Riche is coming off a season with 32 goals and 60 points in 44 games with the Regina Pat Canadians of the Sask Male AAA Hockey League and so far has three goals and four points in 10 games in his rookie WHL campaign.

Unger joined the Warriors in mid November during the 2021-22 season and ended up playing 18 games, posting a 3.60 goals against average, .891 save percentage and 8-7 record. So far this season, Unger has a 1-3 record in four appearances with a 4.30 GAA and .861 save percentage.

Former Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors goaltender Dylan Ernst also earned a spot on the list, also as a ‘C’ ranked player. Ernst posted a 14-8-2 record with the Kamloops Blazers last season, including a 2.95 GAA and .900 SP along with two shutouts. This season with the Blazers, Ernst has a 4-3-1 record with a 3.27 GAA and .902 SP.

Joining Yager as ‘A’ rated prospects are forward Connor Bedard (Regina), forward Zach Benson (Winnipeg), goaltender Carson Bjarnason, forward Nate Danielson, forward Riley Heidt and forward Samuel Honzek.

You can check out the full list by clicking right here.

The first round of the 2023 NHL Draft is slated for Wednesday, June 28, with the remaining rounds taking place Thursday, June 29.