A Burnaby skater is the highest ranking junior A player eligible for the NHL draft according to final Central Scouting numbers.
Marcus Vela, a 6-0, 200-pound centre with the Langley Rivermen of the B.C. Hockey League, was ranked 131st among the 10 junior A players in Canada that made Central Scouting’s top 210 North American skaters.
Vela scored 20 goals with the Rivermen and was a near-point-per-game guy this season, finishing third in team scoring with 46 points.
Jackson Keane from the Winnipeg Blues was the next Canadian Junior A hockey league player listed at 152nd.
Rookie 6-2 Powell River Kings defenceman Carmine Buono of Burnaby was ranked 188th.
Burnaby Winter Club product Mathew Barzal, a second-year centre with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, is a first-round prospect listed at 11th overall.
Barzal garnered 57 points in just 44 games with the T-Birds this season. He added four goals and four helpers in the playoffs following a 4-2 exit against Portland.
Former Northwest Giants major midget centre Jansen Harkins was close behind Barzal in the No. 15 spot.
Harkins had 20 goals and a sixth WHL-best 59 assists with the Prince George Cougars this season.
The NHL entry draft will take place in Florida on June 26 and 27.
