News

The NHL announced their official Central Scouting preliminary lists today for the 2013 NHL Draft, June 28 and 29 in Newark, New Jersey. The lists rank players as A (potential first round picks), B (potential second or third round picks), or C (potential fourth through seventh round picks).  The Wildcats have had several C listers in the past, including Dennis Kravchenko and Adam Wilcox last season, as well as Sean McKenzie and Jason Nash in previous years.

This year, a total of seven NAHL players were listed, the highest ranked player being Wildcats' goaltender Evan Cowley, who was the only NAHL player on the B-list.  Fans may recall that Corpus Christi goalie Anthony Stolarz was also given a B rating a year ago and went in the second round of the draft to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Only eleven goaltenders among all draft-eligible North Americans were listed that high-- one on the A list and nine besides Cowley on the B list.

Additionally, it was announced today that Cowley will be one of the goaltenders in the All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo, NY on September 29.  The team is composed almost entirely of players in the USHL, major junior leagues, and colleges.  Cowley is the only NAHL player invited to participate.  Cowley's team will be coached by 1980 Miracle On Ice team member Rob McClanahan.

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In other Wildcats' news, the team announced today that it has traded forward Ross Luedtke to the Wenatchee Wild for defenseman Chris Knudson.  Knudson (6'3", 205, '93) is a big, top-quality shutdown defenseman who will help to strengthen the Wildcats' back end.  The Illinois native was a +6 with a pair of goals and 15 assists for Wenatchee last year.  Knudson played midget hockey with Team Illinois and the Chicago Fury before being tendered by the Wild in 2011.