NHL Central Scouting has released its Players to Watch list ahead of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and nine BC Hockey League (BCHL) players are on it, including Cranbrook Bucks forward Donovan Frias.

A total of nine current players, one future prospect and another two former BCHLers have made the list.

Central Scouting divides their list into A Prospects, indicating a first-round candidate, B Prospects, someone projected to go in the second or third rounds and C Prospects, players in the fourth to sixth round range, which is where Frias (pictured right) is ranked.

Frias is off to a solid start in his BCHL career, playing at a point-per-game pace in Cranbrook’s seven games so far with three goals and four assists.

Prior to joining the Bucks this year, the 17-year-old starred at St. George’s School in Rhode Island. He led his team in scoring in 2021-22 with 35 points in 24 games.

Frias is committed to Yale University, as is his brother Julian, who is also playing for the Bucks this season.

There is one A Prospect listed by the scouting bureau, Matthew Wood (F) – University of Connecticut (Victoria Grizzlies) and one B Prospect – Bradly Nadeau (F) with the Penticton Vees.

Joining Frias as C Prospects are: Brady Smith (D) – Trail Smoke Eaters; Owen Beckner (F) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks; Dylan Compton (D) – Vernon Vipers; AJ Lacroix (F) – Chilliwack Chiefs; Carter Richardson (G) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks; Hoyt Stanley (D) – Victoria Grizzlies; Aydar Suniev (F) – Penticton Vees; Jonathan Castagna (F) – St. Andrew’s College (Penticton Vees); and Cameron Johnson (F) – Chicago Steel (Chilliwack Chiefs).

The Bucks are currently in fourth place in the BCHL Interior Division with a seven wins, three losses record.

The Bucks are in action tomorrow night in Penticton and Oct. 28 in Salmon Arm.

Cranbrook Bucks image

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