Broncos Conner McGrath and Kevin Anderson of the Notre Dame Hounds both made the NHL draft mid-season ranking. (Becky Zimmer/northeastNOW Staff)

By Becky Zimmer

From SJHL to the NHL

Three SJHL players make the NHL mid-season draft rankings

Jan 14, 2022 | 12:20 PM

For most hockey players, making the NHL is a dream that many are working towards.

This is no different for members of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League currently competing in games across the province.

For three SJHL players that dream is one step closer to reality as they were ranked with a total of 224 North American players in the NHL mid-season draft.

Balgonie, Sask. original and Humboldt Broncos forward, Matthew Perkins, was ranked 117 in the NHL rankings. In the 37 games with the green and gold, Perkins has scored 19 goals and and 23 assists for a total of 42 points so far this season and is number six on the SJHL top skaters list.

Balgonie, Sask. original Matthew Perkins is currently ranked 117 on the NHL mid-season draft. (Becky Zimmer/northeastNOW Staff)

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The soon-to-be 18-year-old rookie told northeastNOW the strong showing stats are just a small piece of the puzzle.

“You can have all the tools in the box but I mean, if you can put the puck in the net or put some points up, it doesn’t really do too much. There’s got to be a good balance of both but it also doesn’t come down to just points so you got to be able to play both sides of the puck and know how to play the game right and everything.”

Also gracing the draft list is fellow Broncos forward, Connor McGrath.

With 55 points in 36 games with the green and gold, broken down into 19 goals and 36 assists, the 18-year-old LeRoy, Sask. original is number one on the SJHL top skaters list. For the NHL draft, McGrath is currently ranked 128.

While players always want to be “better than the next guy,” Perkins said it is great to be on the list together with McGrath.

Kevin Anderson agrees that is goes beyond the stats.

The Notre Dame forward is ranked 119 in the draft and is number three on the SJHL top skaters list. The 19-year-old from Regina has played 34 games this season with 16 goals and 31 assists for a total of 47 points.

While it is an honour to make the list, his goal is still a championship for the Hounds as his focus is still on the current SJHL season.

“Obviously the goal of every team, but I think now more than ever, maybe I have a bit more to prove now and I’d love to see where this can take us.”

Brett Pilkington, head coach of the Hounds, told northeastNOW this reflects well on Anderson’s work both on and off the ice, as well as the program coming out Wilcox, Sask.

“It’s a tremendous honour for the school and all the people involved that have helped Kevin over the years, not only on the ice but in the classroom.”

Both Perkins and Anderson said that numerous people have helped them get to this place in their careers, from parents and siblings to hockey coaches and teachers.

The list is compiled by the NHL Central Scouting and features the top 224 skaters and 32 goaltenders in North America, as well as the top 135 skaters and 10 goaltenders internationally.

The 2022 NHL Draft is scheduled from July 7-8, 2022 and will be hosted by the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre in Montreal, Que.

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becky.zimmer@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @bex_zim