Prince Albert's Jayden Kraus turns the puck aside during a contest against the Portland Winterhawks on Feb. 28, 2025. (Gord Rufh/Victoria Royals)

By Logan Lehmann

Catching Attention

Locals among prospects in final NHL Central Scouting ranking ahead of Draft

Apr 16, 2025 | 5:03 PM

Two local hockey players are among the hundreds of prospects in the NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings ahead of the upcoming draft.

Meadow Lake product and former Battlefords Stars forward Dawson Gerwing ranks 99th among North American skaters, while Prince Albert native and former Mintos netminder Jayden Kraus sits 12th among North American goalies.

Gerwing recently wrapped up his second season in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and split time between two teams, after being dealt from the Swift Current Broncos to the Kelowna Rockets on January 7. Across 58 appearances this season, the 6’4”, 231 pound 18-year-old managed 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points. That totals 37 points in his career in 100 games, along with one assist in seven playoff games.

Unlike Gerwing, Kraus is still playing in his second WHL season as the Victoria Royals face off with Spokane in Round 2. Between the pipes for the Royals the last two seasons, the 18-year-old puckstopper has posted a 3.36 GAA and a .894 SV% with a 33-21-4-6 record (W-L-OTL-SOL) in 72 games. In one playoff appearance this season, Kraus came in as relief in Round 1, Game 4 against Tri-City and registered 14 saves on 16 shots during a 6-4 loss.

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A handful of other players from Saskatchewan made the list, including Saskatoon’s Roger McQueen (Brandon Wheat Kings, ranked #8), Macklin’s Cole Reschny (Victoria Royals, #25), Whitewood’s Reese Hamilton (Regina Pats, #113), Wilcox product Joby Baumuller (Brandon Wheat Kings, #167), Regina’s Kolten Bridgeman (Regina Pats, #190), and Clavet’s Carsen Adair (Lethbridge Hurricanes, #203).

Players who play for Saskatchewan-based WHL teams but are not originally from the province include forward Lynden Lakovic (Moose Jaw Warriors, #14), defenceman Peyton Kettles (Swift Current Broncos, #39), left-winger David Lewandowski (Saskatoon Blades, #51), right-winger Luke Mistelbacher (Swift Current, #93), defenceman Josh McGregor (Swift Current, #111), defenceman Aiden Ziprick (Moose Jaw, #162), centre Hayden Harsanyi (Saskatoon, #187), defenceman Grayson Burzynski (Swift Current, #191), and defenceman Connor Schmidt (Moose Jaw, #213).

The 2025 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 27 and 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

– with files from Britton Gray, 980 CJME

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

On Bluesky: @loganlehmann.bsky.social