Sillinger leads Sask. prospects ranked for 2021 NHL Draft
Regina's Cole Sillinger is projected to be a mid-first round pick at Friday's NHL Entry Draft.
Sillinger scored 22 goals and racked up 31 assists for a total of 53 points in 48 games with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2019-2020 season.
Sillinger opted to play south of the border during the 2020-2021 season with a total of 46 points over the course of 31 games as a member of the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede. His play also earned him the league's Rookie of the Year award.
Although his time in Sioux Falls was primarily motivated by the uncertainty over the WHL season during the pandemic, Sillinger said he valued the opportunity.
"If there was no COVID, I probably would've never went down to the USHL. I'm a big believer that everything happens for a reason, I am glad that I was able to go experience a new league, new organization and meet new people," Sillinger said.
Willie Desjardins, the general manager and head coach of Sillinger's major junior club, said his high level of play south of the border is not surprising.
"I liked the fact that he wanted to go down and play, he wanted to prove he should be picked in the draft and hopefully picked high," Desjardins said. "You wouldn't believe how many teams have called me on him and how many teams have said he's one of the best interviews they've had in the last ten years."
The final ranking from NHL Central Scouting projects him at the 10 slot for North American skaters, drawing a possible parallel to where his father, Mike Sillinger, was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings with the 11th overall pick in 1989.
"Our draft class is kind of wide open after those first couple picks, so it'll be interesting to see what happens," Sillinger told CTV News ahead of the draft. "If I do end up happening to go 11th right where my dad went, that'd be pretty special and would for sure be some bragging rights."
Other names in this year's draft familiar to Saskatchewan hockey fans include Saskatoon-born netminder Carter Serhyenko, Yorkton product Ryder Korczak and Saskatoon's Nolan Allan.
The 2021 NHL Entry Draft is set to begin Friday at 6 p.m. Saskatchewan time.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
DEVELOPING Israel targets air defence system in Syria, state news agency says
Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defence unit in southern Syria, causing material damage, state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying Friday.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.