With the National Hockey League draft less than two months away and most top prospects done playing hockey, Chilliwack Chief Sasha Teleguine is in good shape to be a later-round pick.
The NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau has released its final ranking of draft-eligible North American skaters, and Teleguine is the highest-rated BCHLer. The Massachusetts kid checks in at No. 134, coming off an eye-opening season in the Chilliwack pod.
Facing off in 20 games against Prince George and Merritt (10 vs each), the 2002-born forward collected four goals and 18 points. That total put him third on his own team in scoring and first among all freshmen in the Chilliwack pod. He was a unanimous choice as top rookie in the Chilliwack pod.
RELATED: Chilliwack Chief Sasha Teleguine holds spot on Central Scouting Bureau’s watch list
RELATED: Chilliwack Chiefs forwards on early-season NHL watch list
Among active BCHLers, Teleguine ranked 10 spots higher than Victoria Grizzlies super rookie Ellis Rickwood, who tallied four goals and an assist in his BCHL debut and went on to collect 30 points in 20 Island pod games. Rickwood won the top rookie, top scorer and MVP awards in his pod.
A pair of Salmon Arm Silverbacks also made the CSB list, with forward Noah Serdachny checking in at No. 208 and D-man Joaquim Lemay slotting in at No. 224.
Had Ayrton Marino stuck around the BCHL instead of leaving for the USHL, he would have rated higher than anyone. Marino was with Chilliwack for extended training camp in the fall before leaving to get ice time in the United States-based league. He made the CSB list at No. 46, which would make him a likely third-round pick.
Kent Johnson, who tore up the BCHL during two season in Trail and now stars with the University of Michigan, is ranked No. 3 among all North American skaters and projects to be a top 10 pick.
The 2021 NHL Entry Draft will be held July 23 and 24.
