FAIRBANKS, AK - Freshman goalie
Chad Johnson (Calgary, AB/Brooks-AJHL) of the University of Alaska Fairbanks hockey team and
Jeff Lee (Calgary, AB/Sheerwood Park-AJHL) a UAF hockey recruit have been ranked 15th for goalies and 163rd for skaters (forwards and defensemen), respectively, in the National Hockey League's Central Scouting Service mid-season rankings.
The rankings list North American and European players separately, as well as separating goalies from skaters.
The North American lists rank 210 skaters and 30 goalies, all playing in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to college players the list features draft-eligible major junior players, as well as a number of college-bound high school, prep and junior players.
Of the North American goalies ranked, Johnson was 15th overall and third amongst the seven collegiate goaltenders that were enumerated. Two other Central Collegiate Hockey Association goalies were ranked along with Johnson; Michigan's Billy Sauer was 4th overall and Miami's Jeff Zatkoff was 8th. The CCHA skaters had the three highest rankings of the seven NCAA players listed.
Lee, who will join the Blue and Gold and his older brother
Aaron Lee (sophomore, left wing) in the future, was slated in the sixth round and 163rd overall in the mid-season rankings. He was one of only two skaters from the Alberta Junior Hockey League listed of the 210 North American draft-eligible skaters who were ranked.
Since signing a letter of intent with the Nanooks back in November, Lee has been traded from the Drayton Valley Thunder (AJHL) to the Sheerwood Park Crusaders (AJHL). The eldest Lee also played for the Crusaders prior attending UAF.
The NHL Central Scouting Service provides scouting and evaluation of draft-eligible players to NHL member clubs. Headed by NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Jim Gregory and Director of Central Scouting Frank Bonello, NHL Central Scouting employs nine full-time and six part-time scouts throughout North America and works with Goran Stubb of the European Scouting Service and his staff of five full-time scouts to cover prospects playing throughout Europe. NHL Central Scouting and European Scouting Service together will see more then 3,000 games over the course of the season.
The final rankings will be released in mid summer, prior to the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. The Vancouver Canucks will host the 2006 NHL Entry Draft at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.
A Top Prospects Preview, which provides hockey fans a glimpse of the young athletes expected to be selected by the 30 NHL clubs, also will be held in conjunction with the Entry Draft.
-UAF HOCKEY-
