Prospects: Three CHL Players Ranked in Top 10

With no shortage of talent eligible for the upcoming draft there are three players from the Canadian Hockey League that cracked the top 10. It"s time we get to know the top three prospects from the CHL.

#3. Forward Conor Geekie

Conor Geekie of the Winnipeg Ice in the Western Hockey League is the third highest-ranked player that plays in one of the three leagues that makes up the Canadian Hockey Leagues. The 2004 born forward was a rookie in 2020-21 as the Western Hockey League was able to get a shortened season during the Covid-19 Pandemic, Conor played in 24 games for his rookie campaign. In those 24 games the Strathclair, Manitoba Canada native tallied 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points, nearly a point per game average in his first full season with the Winnipeg Ice.

Geekie is now 17-years old and in his second season, which will be his first full schedule season, unlike his previous shortened season. The talented forward has picked up right where he left off, in 2021-22 he has 6 goals and 17 assists for 23 points. The more impressive part of those stats is he has only played in 18 games thus far in 2021-22.

He is a consensus top 10 pick for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He is a big, power forward at six foot four and 205 pounds that is extremely talented offensively and reads the game exceptionally well. With a full season ahead of him there is no telling how many points Conor Geekie can record this year, probably a lot.

#2. Matthew Savoie

Matthew Savoie is also a teammate of Conor Geekie as both players are on the Winnipeg Ice in the Western Hockey League. Matthew is a 2004 born forward from St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. The five-foot-nine-centerman is in his second season with the Winnipeg Ice, he played 22 games in 2019-2020 tallying 7 assists. He also played 22 games for his U18 team that same season.

Savoie began his 2020-21 season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League as the uncertainty surrounding the WHL beginning play due to Covid-19. Matthew played games with the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the AJHL, he tallied 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points. Following his time in the AJHL Matthew Savoie took his Talents across the border to the United States of America and the United States Hockey League (USHL).

Like many other junior hockey players last year he had to find somewhere to play as most Leagues had to suspend play because of the ongoing pandemic. Savoie joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL and played in 34 games for his temporary team. In 2020-21 Savoie tallied 21 goals and 17 assists for 38 points. 2021-22 is underway and Matthew is back in the WHL with the Winnipeg Ice, so far this season he has 8 goals and 21 assists for 39 points in 18 games with the Ice.

#1. Shane Wright

The top-ranked prospect is the consensus number one prospect likely to be taken 1st overall at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, his name is Shane Wright. Shane was granted exceptional status to join the Ontario Hockey League two seasons ago. Shane was selected by the Kingston Frontenacs as a 15-year old.

Shane is now playing in his third season in the OHL however, the Ontario Hockey League did not play in 2020-21 so his sophomore season was spent training and staying in shape. In his rookie season as an underage player in the OHL, he tallied 39 goals and 27 assists for 66 points in 58 games played.

In 2021-22 his third season the now 17-year old has gotten off to a hot start for the Kingston Frontenacs, he currently has 6 goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 14 games played. Wright has been on the radar of scouts everywhere and he is on track to be selected number one overall at the draft. He has played on the Canadian World juniors U17 and U18 teams since joining the Ontario Hockey League, he was named captain on both teams.

All three players are extremely talented offensively and have all the intangibles that pro scouts are looking for, expect all three players to be taken in the top 10 at the NHL Entry Draft, wouldn"t be a surprise to see them all selected in the top 5. Wright could be playing in the NHL next year once he is drafted as the top prospect in his draft class, Savoie and Geekie could be NHL players in their draft year as well, and if not they won"t be in the AHL for very long before making their professional debuts.

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