Nine Manitobans have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary ‘Players to Watch’ list for the 2022 NHL Draft.

Winnipeg ICE forward Conor Geekie (Strathclair) and Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Denton Mateychuk (Dominion City) were two of three WHL players who were given an ‘A’ rating. Prince George Cougars goaltender Tyler Brennan was given a ‘B’ rating while Moose Jaw Warriors forward Eric Alarie (Winnipeg), Swift Current Broncos goaltender Reid Dyck (Winkler), Regina Pats goaltender Matthew Kieper (Winnipeg), Vancouver Giants forward Justin Lies (Flin Flon), Swift Current Broncos defenceman Owen Pickering (St.Adolphe), and Portland Winterhawks defenceman Ryder Thompson (Russell) were given ‘C’ ratings.

NHL Central Scouting identifies players with a rating system that includes four categories. The ‘A’ rating indicates players projected to be first-round candidates. The ‘B’ rating indicates players projected to be second- or third-round candidates, and the ‘C’ rating indicates players projected to be fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-round candidates. Though no players received this designation, ‘LV’ represents a player who has not had sufficient viewings, due to injury.

MANITOBANS ON NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING’S PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST

PTW	Position	First Name	Last Name	Hometown	Current Team
A	C	Conor	Geekie	Strathclair	Winnipeg ICE (WHL)
A	D	Denton	Mateychuk	Dominion City	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
B	G	Tyler	Brennan	Winnipeg	Prince George Cougars (WHL)
C	LW	Eric	Alarie	Winnipeg	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
C	G	Reid	Dyck	Winkler	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
C	G	Matthew	Kieper	Winnipeg	Regina Pats (WHL)
C	C	Justin	Lies	Flin Flon	Vancouver Giants (WHL)
C	D	Owen	Pickering	St.Adolphe	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
C	D	Ryder	Thompson	Russell	Portland Winterhawks (WHL)