Mateychuk was one of three Western Hockey League players to receive an ‘A’ ranking from the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau, meaning the Winnipeg product is a likely first-round pick during the two-day event this summer.
Mateychuk has been on scout’s radar much of his young hockey career, including those from Hockey Canada. He was a late addition for the 2021 World Under-18 championship that saw Canada win gold, seeing action in three games.
Mateychuk played seven games with the Warriors as a 15-year-old and had a goal and an assist before emerging as one of the team’s top defencemen a year later in the East Division Hub, where he had two goals and nine points in 16 games.
Through six games this season, Mateychuk has two goals and four points.
Also receiving ‘A’ rankings in the WHL were a pair of Winnipeg Ice forwards in Connor Geekie and Matthew Savoie.
A pair of Warriors forwards were also listed by Central Scouting with ‘C’ rankings, indicating a fourth- to six-round selection.
Left winger Eric Alarie made his second appearance on the list, after being ranked 51st overall heading into the 2021 NHL Draft but going unselected. He’d later skate in the Florida Panthers prospects camp.
The 18-year-old Winnipeg product led the Warriors in scoring with 10 goals and 20 points over 19 games in the East Division Hub and has three assists in six games so far this season.
Jagger Firkus also cracked the list as a ‘C’ ranked skater, with the Irma, Alta. product drawing plenty of attention after his stellar showing in the Hub last season, where he scored six goals and 14 points. Firkus is off to another strong start in the 2021-22 campaign, where he has two goals and six points in six games.
The Warriors are back in action Wednesday night when they travel to Winnipeg to face the undefeated Ice.
