Addison remains among top skaters

Lethbridge Hurricanes defenceman Calen Addison is one of 45 Western Hockey League players ranked by NHL Central Scouting in the final rankings leading up to the National Hockey League Entry Draft in June.

Addison, a five-foot-10, 180-pound defenceman in his second year with the Canes, is the fourth-ranked WHL skater (30th overall) out of the 45 players listed.

The top four WHL prospects are all defencemen with Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs 14th, Alexander Alexeyev of the Red Deer Rebels 22nd and Jett Woo of the Moose Jaw Warriors 28th.

Overall, the Rebels lead the way with five players among the top 45 skaters and goaltenders ranked by Central Scouting while the Calgary Hitmen and Saskatoon Blades have four players each listed.

Teams with three players ranked include the Spokane Chiefs, Vancouver Giants, Kelowna Rockets, Brandon Wheat Kings, Prince Albert Raiders and Everett Silvertips, including Riley Sutter, the son of former Lethbridge Broncos captain Ron Sutter.

Moose Jaw Warriors, Swift Current Broncos, Kootenay Ice and Kamloops Blazers have two players each on the list.

At the 2017 NHL Draft, a total of 33 WHL players were selected, including seven in the first round.