Two days before his 18th birthday, a young Vancouver Giants forward received confirmation that NHL scouts are keeping a close eye on him.
Zack Ostapchuk has moved up to #60 among NA Skaters in the latest CSS Rankings for the 2021 NHL Draft 馃憖
鈥 Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants)
NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings list ahead of the 2021 NHL draft, and G-Men鈥檚 Ostapchuk is on it.
He has been ranked as the #60 North American skater among all draft-eligible players.
Originally selected by the G-Men in round 1 (12th overall) in the 2018 WHL bantam draft, the 6 ft. 3 in., 198-pounder from St. Albert, Alta., is coming off a terrific second season in the WHL, said Dan O鈥機onnor, media relations director and play-by-play broadcaster for the Giants.
RECENT COVERAGE: VIDEO - Vancouver Giants wrap up season with a big win over Victoria
In 22 games this season, Ostapchuk scored seven goals and added nine assists for 16 points, which ranked him fourth among Giants forwards and fifth in overall team scoring.
Three of his seven goals were game winners, and he was second in the entire WHL with five 鈥渇irst goals.鈥
In 72 career regular season games with the Giants, Ostapchuk has managed 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points.
Ostapchuk was also the second highest-ranked B.C. division skater to crack the North American final rankings list, O鈥機onnor noted. He placed behind Fabian Lysell, a Swedish forward who the Giants drafted in the 2020 CHL import draft and who was ranked #9 among all international skaters in Central Scouting鈥檚 final rankings list.
And, Ostapchuk is also ranked 11th highest among all players who skated in the WHL this season.
RECENT: VIDEO 鈥 鈥楧o or die鈥 for Giants heading into final three games
.
Have a story tip? Email: news@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on and follow us on .