Some Salmon Arm Silverbacks players with NHL dreams have caught the eye of the hockey league early in the season.
The NHL’s Central Scouting Preliminary Players to Watch list came out Oct. 25, highlighting four Salmon Arm players as eligible for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. This initial list ranks North American and international players.
Salmon Arm’s players are ranked in the ‘W’ category, meaning they are projected to get picked in the sixth or seventh round of the NHL Entry Draft.
On list for the Silverbacks is Riley Ashe, who has five points so far in the season and is committed to the University of Nebraska Omaha for 2024.
Next is Cole Longacre, defenceman, committed to Merrrimack College.
Joseph Monteiro has nine points with Salmon Arm and is headed to Providence College in 2025, and Reid Varkonyi, with eight points, is committed to Denver University in 2024.
The four BCHL players can continue to show off for NHL scouts at the BCHL showcase this week, with a game against the Langley Rivermen Oct. 25 at 2:50 p.m. and one tomorrow night (Oct. 26) at 7:50 p.m. against the Surrey Eagles, both at the Kraken Community Complex in Seattle.
Back to regular season, the Silverbacks play the Kings in Powell River Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m..
Read more: Iginla highlights Kelowna Rockets, West Kelowna Warriors on NHL scouting list
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