Six Raiders Listed In Central Scouting’s Final Rankings

Prince Albert SK- NHL Central Scouting released their final rankings for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft today and six members of the Prince Albert Raiders have been identified. Mark McNeill, Harrison Ruopp, Todd Fiddler, Jonathan Parker, Austin Connor and goaltender Eric Williams have all been included in the final rankings.

17 year old centre Mark McNeill is ranked 14^th overall amongst North American Skaters and is the 5^th highest ranked player from the WHL. He has improved his ranking by eight spots since he was ranked 22^nd overall in Central Scouting’s Midterm report on January 11^th. McNeill finished second on the team and 24^th in the league in scoring with 32 goals and 49 assists for 81 points in 70 games. He also had two goals and three assists for five points in six playoff games.

Making his debut in Central Scouting’s report is 17 year old defenceman Harrison Ruopp who is ranked 102^nd overall amongst North American Skaters. He missed 18 games throughout the regular season due to injury but in his 54 regular season appearances he had nine assists and 98 penalty minutes to go along with a +8 rating. Ruopp was one of two winners of the Raiders most improved player award and played a key shut down role against the Saskatoon Blades in the first round of the playoffs.

Todd Fiddler was the third skater identified from the Raiders and he finished 128^th overall amongst North American Skaters. He was ranked 171^st overall in Central Scouting’s midterm report on January 11^th but picked up 17 points in the final 20 games of the season to improve his ranking by 43 spots. Fidder led all Raider rookies and finished 13^th in the league amongst rookies with 23 goals and 15 assists for 38 points in 70 games. He was tied for the team lead in goals during the playoffs notching three goals in six playoff games.

18 year old Austin Connor was ranked 182^nd overall in his first inclusion in Central Scouting’s report. He appeared in 59 games for the Raiders this season picking up eight goals and five assists for 13 points to go along with 104 penalty minutes.

19 year old Jonathan Parker is ranked 186^th overall which was also his first inclusion in Central Scouting’s report this season. The Raiders regular season MVP led the team and finished 13^th in the league in scoring with 45 goals and 41 assists for 86 points in 71 games. Parker’s 45 goals were also the 6^th most the WHL.

Eric Williams is ranked 16^th amongst North American goaltenders and is the third highest ranked goaltender from the WHL. Williams appeared in 40 games with the Raiders this season finishing with a 3.71 GAA, a 0.898 save percentage, one shut out and a 17-17-1-1 record.

The NHL Draft will take place on June 24^th-25^th in St. Paul Minnesota.