A member of the Penticton Vees is ranked among the top North American skaters eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft this summer.
Rookie defenseman Ryan Hopkins is listed as No. 101 on the Central Scouting Rankings ahead of the upcoming draft in Montreal, scheduled to be held on July 7 and 8.
Hopkins is one of four B.C. Hockey League players on the list, joined by the West Kelowna Warriors’ Tyson Jugnauth, Cranbrook Bucks forward Tyson Dyck and the Wenatchee Wild’s Cade Littler.
The Vees defenseman was named to the BCHL’s All-Rookie Team for the 2021-2022 season, posting seven goals and 24 assists in 47 games played.
The University of Maine commit has also made an impact during the Vees’ playoff run, tallying three assists from the blue line in eight games.
Penticton has won 12 straight postseason affairs on route to an upcoming appearance in the Fred Page Cup Finals.
Hopkins and the Vees will battle the Nanaimo Clippers in the finals, scheduled to begin on May 13 at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
This time next week;
— Fred Harbinson (@FredHarbinson) May 7, 2022
two historic BCHL programs enter the Fred Page Cup Championship on 12 game winning streaks.
For the 22nd time in Franchise history we will play in the Cup Final; Vees Nation lets fill the SOEC as we attempt to capture our record setting 13 BCHL Title pic.twitter.com/JjbnGcQVCv
The full NHL Central Scouting Rankings list can be found here.
READ MORE: Penticton Vees Fred Page Cup Finals schedule released, tickets on sale May 6
READ MORE: Four Kelowna players make final NHL draft rankings
@lgllockhart
logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.