With a handful of games left to the 62nd season of the SMJHL, it's time to take a look at a few standouts from the S62 SMJHL Draft Class.

RD - Brent Ashe II

The Grizzlies got quite a steal with the 20th selection of the S62 SMJHL Entry Draft. Picking the offensive defenseman from London allowed the Grizzlies to add another defensive weapon behind Vadim Askerov. Surprisingly, Ashe sits 4th among Grizzly defensemen in TOI but has 29 points in 52 games. These 29 points are good for 3rd in rookie scoring. The organization has seemingly pushed Ashe up the depth chart, surpassing Bilbo Baggins, another RD whom the Grizzlies selected one round earlier with the 7th overall pick. The only thing about Ashe's game is his plus-minus which currently sits at 1. This shows that the defensive side of his game needs work, but an overall promising rookie season from the young defenseman.

C - Chris McZherl Jr.

Coming from a Hall-of-fame pedigree comes with high expectations, CMJ has clearly met and exceeded them. Currently, he sits alone atop the rookie scoring leaderboard with 32 points in 52 games for the Kelowna Knights. This 6'2" center, hailing from Leipzig, Germany has put up 12 goals alongside 20 assists. What's even more surprising, the strong skater leads London with a plus-minus of 27. Most rookies struggle with defensive responsibilities but not this center that London stole out of the second round with pick number 22. Combined with his skating ability, size, and offensive instincts, CMJ is a top prospect going into the next SHL draft.

C - Valters Denisova

From Jelgava, Latvia to St. John's, Newfoundland. Valters Denisova currently sits one spot behind CMJ for the rookie scoring lead. Only one point behind with a dozen or so games left to go, Denisova could easily be crowned the SMJHL ROTY. This athletic center provides insane depth to an already stacked squad for the Berserkers. The 13th overall pick of the S62 SMJHL entry draft has currently provided 10 goals and 21 assists for the Newfoundland faithful. At 6'0", this center provides better playmaking skills than rival CMJ, with CMJ getting the better of Denisova with his shooting ability. The final 15 games should be interesting as the race continues.

RW - Tim Riggins

Kelowna had a hell of a draft during the preseason, adding a 6'6" man-beast by the name of Tim Riggins. Besides selecting Chris McZherl Jr, Kelowna snagged the power forward they needed with the 8th overall pick. Having two game-ready rookies really adds to a team's depth, while also providing a solid future for the organization. One of the strongest players in the draft, Riggins is a prototypical power forward with surprisingly strong skating skills. Besides his dominant size, Riggins also possesses the hockey IQ to make plays at high speeds which will contribute heavily to any line that he plays on. Having a combination of size and skill with McZherl Jr and Riggins will make Kelowna a force to be reckoned with sooner than later.

Approved!

+5 TPE @GreyGooseVodka