Six players with NAHL ties listed on final NHL Central Scouting rankings

Grant Riley (above) and Dylan Abbott (below) are two of the NAHL players recognized by NHL Central Scouting for the 2020 NHL Draft.

The cancelled 2019-20 season hasn’t slowed down the recognition and development of North American Hockey League (NAHL) players. The the league is pleased to announce that several players have been recognized on the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters and goalies for the 2020 NHL Draft.

The list this year includes six players with NAHL ties, including five players that played in the NAHL during the 2019-20 season, and one more that previously played in the NAHL last season.

 Click here to view North American skater rankings

Click here to view North American goalie rankings

Over 100 NHL scouts, including those from NHL Central Scouting, were on hand at both the NAHL Showcase back in September, and the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in February.

Despite the cancelation of the 2019-20 season, the NAHL has continued to thrive in terms of player advancement. To date, the NAHL currently has 260 NCAA commitments during the 2019-20 season, which is ahead of last season’s record-breaking pace.

Last season, the NAHL had a record number of 351 NCAA commitments. In addition, the NAHL has had more than 1,400+ NCAA commitments and 36 NHL Draft picks in the last six years, which has coincided with an increased presence on the annual NHL Central Scouting players to watch list. 

2019-20 NAHL players on the list

Dylan Abbott, D, Fairbanks Ice Dogs – Abbott, 18, had a very good second season in the NAHL. The 6’0/180 lbs. native of Wasilla, Alaska, and Minnesota State commit was named to the All-NAHL 2nd Team in addition to being named the Midwest Division Defenseman of the Year as he recorded 27 points in 50 games this season from the blueline. Abbott played for the NAHL Selects Red team at the 2020 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament.

Seamus Campbell, F, Springfield Jr. Blues (St. Louis Jr. Blues, NA3HL) – Campbell, 17, has played most of the season in the NA3HL with the St. Louis Jr. Blues, but made his NAHL debut back in early November, where he scored one goal in two games for Springfield. The 6’0/185 lbs. native of St. Louis, Missouri and NAPHL grad, appeared in all 47 games for St. Louis in the NA3HL this season, recording 31 points. He also played in the 2020 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament for the NAHL Selects Blue team. Following the event, he committed to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for Quinnipiac University.

Jakub Dobes, G, Topeka Pilots (Omaha Lancers, USHL) – Dobes, 18, played the first two months of the 2019-20 season with the Pilots. The 6’4/200 lbs. native of Vitkovice, Czech Republic, who committed to Ohio State while playing for the Pilots earlier this season, posted a 7-3-0 record in 10 appearances with a 1.59 goals against average, a .946 save percentage, and three shutouts.

Zach Michaelis, F, Minnesota Wilderness (Elk River, Minnesota High School) – Michaelis, 17, played for the Wilderness through November and had a good start to his rookie season of junior hockey. The 5’11/190 lbs. native of Elk River, Minnesota, and Nebraska-Omaha commit, recorded eight points in 16 games played for the Wilderness. That included a small stint with the team at the end of the season in March following the conclusion of the high school season.

Grant Riley, G, Janesville Jets – Riley, 17, was a workhorse for the Jets during the 2019-20 season. The 6’4/195 lbs. native of Rochester, New York and Boston College recruit has posted a 15-19-2 record in 37 appearances this season, which included a 3.15 goals against average and a .912 save percentage with one shutout. Riley put up some great numbers at the 2020 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament playing for the NAHL Selects Red team. He was named to the Midwest Division All-Rookie Team in addition to the All-NAHL Rookie 2nd team.

NAHL players now in another league

Tim Lovell, D, Des Moines Bucs (Northeast Generals, 2018-19)