Chase Stefanek on NHL Draft Watchlist

NHL Central Scouting has released its initial Players to Watch list ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and there are 15 BCHL players named, including Trail Smoke Eaters forward, Chase Stefanek.

The list is separated into different categories.

• A Prospects: 1st round candidate
• B Prospects: 2nd/3rd round candidate
• C Prospects: 4th/5th round candidate
• W Prospects: 6th/7th round candidate
• LV (Limited Viewing): Injured players

See below for the full list of BCHL players on the NHL Central Scouting Players to Watch list.

B Prospects:

F Jack Pridham – West Kelowna Warriors

C Prospects:

F Chase Stefanek – Trail Smoke Eaters
D Francesco Dell’Elce – Penticton Vees
F Max Heise – Penticton Vees
F Callum Hughes – West Kelowna Warriors
F Tobias Pitka – Victoria Grizzlies

W Prospects:

F Riley Ashe – Salmon Arm Silverbacks
D Gabriel Guilbault – Langley Rivermen
G Tyler Hodges – Nanaimo Clippers
D Cole Longacre – Salmon Arm Silverbacks
F Connor MacPherson – Penticton Vees
F JJ Monteiro – Salmon Arm Silverbacks
F Patrick Murphy – Victoria Grizzlies
F Noah Urness – Cranbrook Bucks
F Reid Varkonyi – Salmon Arm Silverbacks

The list also includes former Merritt Centennials forward Diego Johnson who now plays in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

The NHL Draft takes place in June.