Photo courtesy of Randy Feere/Medicine Hat Tigers

By Chris Brown

10th, 14th among North American skaters

Tigers’ Sillinger, Bandits’ Ceulemans potential first-round picks

May 28, 2021 | 10:39 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Two locals could hear their names called in the first round of this year’s NHL Entry Draft.

Cole Sillinger of the Medicine Hat Tigers and Corson Ceulemans of the Brooks Bandits are ranked in the top 15 among North American skaters. The NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau released its final rankings this week.

Sillinger is ranked 10th, while Ceulemans is 14th.

The Tigers forward played in the United States Hockey League with the Sioux Falls Stampede. He put up 24 goals and 46 points in just 31 games.

In the 2019-20 season with the Tigers Sillinger scored 22 goals and had 53 points in 48 games. That season he also suited up for Canada White at the World Under-17 Hockey Championship, scoring five goals in six games.

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With the support of the Tigers, Sillinger chose to play in the USHL this year due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and the WHL season. He is expected to return to Medicine Hat for next season.

Ceulemans, a defensemen for the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL, had 11 points in eight games during this abbreviated season.

He’s also fresh off a gold medal win at the World Under-18 Hockey Championship.

Also ranked by Central Scouting is Tigers blueliner Dru Krebs. He’s listed at 142nd after posting 11 points in 23 games this season.

The draft is scheduled for July 23-24.