Ty Nelson heads the list of five members of the North Bay Battalion who made the NHL's mid term central scouting rankings in anticipation for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Defenceman Nelson is No. 25 among North American-based skaters, while centre Liam Arnsby is rated 66th. Defenceman Ty Mathurin is ranked 152nd and centre Kyle Jackson 182nd on the 224-player list released Wednesday.
Dom DiVincentiis is No. 14 of 32 North American-based goaltenders. He is fourth among OHL goalies.
A total of 62 OHL performers are listed, numbering 41 forwards, 14 defencemen and seven goaltenders.
“We’ve been fortunate this season to have contributions from a number of young players,” said Battalion general manager Adam Dennis in a release.
“Ty, Liam, Tnias, Kyle and Dom have all played a big role on our team this year and are all deserving.
“In addition, it’s nice to see Kyle get some recognition after having his draft year cancelled because of covid. He’s turned into one of the best players in the league, and our team has missed his presence the last few weeks.
“We look forward to getting back on the ice and having more players join the list and current players rise up it.”
Nelson, the seventh-ranked OHL skater and the top-rated Canadian-born rearguard, has scored five goals and earned 21 assists for 26 points with 24 penalty minutes in 32 games. He is second in rookie scoring behind centre Owen Beck of the Mississauga Steelheads and fourth in scoring among OHL defencemen.
Nelson, the No. 1 choice in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens minor midgets, turns 18 on March 30.
TSN's Craig Button has Nelson expected to go 14th overall in this summer's NHL Entry Draft on his latest Craig's List released this week.
Arnsby, North Bay’s first-round choice, ninth overall, in 2019 from the Don Mills Flyers minor midgets, has eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points while amassing 51 PiM in 31 games. The Battalion captain turned 18 last Nov. 20.
Mathurin, who marks his 18th birthday Saturday, has two goals and seven assists for nine points with 20 PiM in 24 games. He was a third-round selection in 2020 from the Ajax-Pickering Raiders minor midgets.
Jackson, who has missed 10 games with a knee injury, has 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points with 14 PiM in 23 games. A third-rounder in 2018 from the Toronto Red Wings minor midgets, he turned 19 on Oct. 17.
DiVincentiis has a won-lost-extended record of 3-7-0, a 3.13 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage in 12 games. The Battalion chose him in the sixth round of the 2020 Priority Selection from the Vaughan Kings minor midgets. He turns 18 on March 4.
North Bay's Lucas Edmonds, who plays for the Kingston Frontenacs is rated 107th overall.
.jpg;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
