Central Scouting released their players to watch list with a pair of Tigers. Medicine Hat Tigers/Facebook

By Jesse Gill

Pair of Tigers and a Medicine Hat local make ‘players to watch’ list for upcoming NHL draft

Oct 23, 2024 | 5:14 PM

A pair of Medicine Hat Tigers made the grade for the NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2025 NHL Entry draft.

Forward Kadon McCann was given a “C” rating, indicating he’s a candidate for the fourth to fifth round of the draft.

Defenceman Jonas Woo was given a “W” rating, which would put him as a projected sixth to seventh round pick at the draft.

McCann has put up a goal and an assist, playing down the middle and getting into all of the Tigers first 10 games this season.

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McCann said it’s super special and an honour for him to get that recognition.

“Obviously brings spotlight, but at the same time, you just got to play your game,” McCann said.

“My focus is on the team winning right now so obviously it’s pretty cool, but at the same time there is a long way to go and once we keep winning game. I think it will help quite a bit.”

Woo born in late 2006, after the Sept. 15 cutoff for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, makes the list after a very strong start with seven points in nine games from the back end.

Woo said he’s motivated to keep climbing the list, by playing his game.

“Obviously it’s pretty cool. It’s something you look forward to the draft, but it’s something you try not to focus on,” Woo said.

“It’s early in the year and you always want to get better so. It’s something I kind of put behind me and if anything it’s just motivation.”

A number of Tigers who are draft eligible for the first time this season were left off the preliminary list.

Forward Hayden Harsanyi and defensemen Matt Paranych and Jack Kachkowski, along with goaltender Jordan Switzer, are four additional players who could be considered for the mid-term rankings.

Harsanyi who suffered an injury in the Oct. 11 game against the Brandon Wheat Kings had been off to a strong start with four points through seven games.

Paranych has also dealt with injuries, so far this season and has a pair of goals through six games this season.

Kachkowski had dressed for nine games this year tallying an assist.

Switzer has got into the net for three games this season, twice in relief with two losses to show, but getting a win in his only start.

Not a Tiger, but from Medicine Hat, Portland Winterhawks Forward Ryan Miller was also assigned a W ranking, slotting him in as an expected sixth to seventh round pick.

Miller has got off to strong start with the Winterhawks putting up nine points through 12 games.