(CFJC Today/File photo).

By Aaron Schulze

Blazers Central Scouting

Four Blazers make final NHL Central Scouting draft rankings

May 5, 2022 | 9:33 AM

KAMLOOPS — Three Kamloops Blazers are in the final National Hockey League (NHL) Central Scouting rankings for North American skaters.

The list unveiled on Thursday (May 5) has center Fraser Minten at No. 28, defenceman Mats Lindgren at No. 47, and right wing Matthew Seminoff at No. 72. Minten went up six spots from January’s rankings, while Lindgren fell 17 spots and Seminoff fell by 22.

Minten scored 55 points (20 goals and 35 assists) in 67 games for the Blazers in the 2021-22 Western Hockey League (WHL) regular season, finishing fifth in team scoring.

Lindgren finished the WHL regular season with 44 points (five goals and 39 assists) in 68 games. Meanwhile, Seminoff scored 57 points (26 goals and 31 assists) in 64 games.

If Lindgren, Minten and Seminoff get selected by NHL teams, it will be the second year in a row with three players from the Blazers drafted. Logan Stankoven was taken by Dallas in the second round in 2021, followed by Caedan Bankier and Josh Pillar taken by Minnesota in the third and fourth rounds respectively.

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Between the pipes, Blazers goaltender Dylan Ernst was ranked No. 30 among North American goaltenders. The 18-year-old went 14-8-2 in 24 games, posting a 0.900 save percentage and 2.95 goals against average.

Elsewhere, Kamloops local Matthew Ward was ranked No. 137 for North American skaters, up seven spots from January. The 18-year-old center finished the 2021-22 WHL season with 57 points (22 goals and 35 assists) in 64 games, leading the Swift Current Broncos in scoring.

Kamloops local Kolby Hay was ranked No. 20 in North American goaltenders. The 17-year-old went 16-4-1 in 25 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL in 2021-22, posting an 0.885 save percentage and 3.11 goals against average.

The 2022 NHL Draft is scheduled for July 7 and 8.