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Rangers CHL prospects update
Written by: Courtney Wagner on 12/28/2004 
Nigel Dawes, LW - Kootenay Ice, WHL
Height: 5’8, Weight: 185 lbs., DOB – 1985-02-09
A fifth round pick in 2003, Nigel Dawes is captain of the Kootenay Ice in his fourth season with the club. A member of the silver medal winning Canadian team at the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championships, the winger is a returning player for the 2005 championship. He tied for first in tournament scoring last year with 11 points and had the most goals with six. Dawes is a small player at 5’8, but possesses good hands and works hard to get into scoring position. In 56 games in 2003-04 he had 70 points and his 47 goals were good for fourth in the WHL. Among other awards, he received the Western Conference Brad Hornung Trophy for most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year, was named to the Western Conference First All-Star Team and was selected to play for Team WHL at the 2003 RE/MAX Canada Russia Challenge. So far this season Dawes leads the Ice with 19 goals and 28 points in 31 games.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Kootenay | 31 | 19 | 9 | 28 | 18 | +5 |
Zdenek Bahensky, RW - Saskatoon Blades,
WHL
Height: 6’2, Weight: 195 lbs., DOB – 1986-01-03
Zdenek Bahensky, a third round pick in 2004, joined the Saskatoon Blades this season, coming from Litvinov of the Czech Republic Junior League in his native country. He was the first overall selection in the 2004 CHL Import Draft and is currently ninth in WHL rookie scoring this season with seven goals and 18 points in 32 games with a +9 rating. Bahensky is noted for being a quick skater with good acceleration and a two-way player who uses his physical strength on the ice. His three short-handed goals are good for first on the Blades in that category.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Saskatoon | 32 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 41 | +9 |
Ivan Baranka, D - Everett Silvertips, WHL
Height: 6’2, Weight: 196 lbs., DOB – 1985-05-19
The 50th overall selection in the 2003 draft, Ivan Baranka is in his second season with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL. This native of Slovakia was the Silvertips rookie of the year selection last season and is representing his nation for the second straight year at the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championships in North Dakota. Noted for having a good slap shot and using his body to make defensive plays, Baranka is a quick skater with good puck handling skills. He has four goals and 12 points so far this season, which puts him near his point total of 15 from last season. His four power play goals are good for third on the team.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Everett | 33 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 34 | -7 |
Dane Byers, LW - Prince Albert Raiders, WHL
Height: 6’2, Weight: 187 lbs., DOB - 1986-02-21
Dane Byers, the 48th overall pick in the 2004 draft, is playing in his third season with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. Known to be an excellent player along the boards and in the corners, Byers plays a physical game and is effectiveat killing penalties. Last season he had nine goals and 17 points and his 134 penalty minutes were good for fourth on the team. So far this season Byers has three goals and seven points in 31 games and his 102 penalty minutes lead the team and place him fifth overall in that category in the WHL.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Prince Albert | 31 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 102 | -3 |
Rick Kozak, RW - Prince Albert Raiders, WHL
Height: 6'2, Weight: 190 lbs., DOB - 1985-08-19
Rick Kozak, a third round selection of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2003, was acquired in a trade earlier this year that sent Vladimir Malakhov and a draft pick the Flyers way. He joined the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL this season from the Kamloops Blazers. Not known for Backing down from a challenge, he causes turnovers with his aggressive style of play and possesses a strong shot. Kozak had a +11 rating in 54 games last season and 160 penalty minutes, which was the second highest total on the Blazers behind Nashville prospect Paul Brown. In 18 games this season he has seven goals and eight points with 51 penalty minutes.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Prince Albert | 18 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 51 | +1 |
Roman Psurny, LW - Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
Height: 6'1, Weight: 176 lbs., DOB - 1986-02-23
A fifth round pick in 2004, Roman Psurny is in his rookie season in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers, coming from his native Czech Republic where he played with Zlin in the Czech Republic Junior League. He represented his country at the 2004 Under-18 World Junior Championships in Minsk. Psurny is currently third in WHL rookie scoring with 24 points in 33 games and his 11 goals place him in second for rookies behind Ottawa prospect Roman Wick of the Red Deer Rebels.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Medicine Hat | 33 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 27 | +12 |
Brandon Dubinsky, C - Portland Winter Hawks, WHL
Height: 6'0, Weight: 195 lbs., DOB - 1986-04-29
The 60th overall pick in the 2004 draft, Brandon Dubinsky is in his third season with the Portland Winter Hawks of the WHL. He led the team with 48 assists and 78 points in 71 games in the 2003-04 season and his 30 goals were good for second behind Dan Da Silva. An effective faceoff man, Dubinsky is a tough competitor who does not get intimidated and is not afraid to take a hit. In 32 games so far this season, Dubinsky has 10 goals and 22 points and his 83 penalty minutes put him in second on the team behind Shane Halifax.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Portland | 32 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 83 | -4 |
Marcus Jonasen, LW - Tri-City Americans, WHL
Height: 6'4, Weight: 220 lbs., DOB - 1984-04-23
A third round pick in 2002, Marcus Jonasen joined the Tri-City Americans last year, coming from his native Sweden where he played in the Swedish Junior League. In 43 games last season he had 12 goals and 26 points. He also made history last year, becoming the first European player in WHL history to be named as a captain. Jonasen is an aggressive power forward who battles hard for the puck and can be used effectively in all game situations. In 33 games so far this season he has 23 points and his 13 goals are highest on the Americans.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Tri-City | 33 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 39 | +5 |
Jakub Petruzalek, LW - Ottawa 67's, OHL
Height: 5'9, Weight: 172 lbs., DOB - 1985-04-24
Jakub Petruzalek, a ninth round selection in 2004, is in his rookie season with the Ottawa 67's of the OHL, coming from his native Czech Republic where he led the Czech Republic Junior League with 89 points. He is currently representing his country at the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championships in North Dakota. Known to use his speed to make up for his lack of size, Petruzalek is a force around the net and is strong in one-on-one situations. He leads the 67's with 22 assists in 29 games and his 36 points place him second in OHL rookie scoring behind Benoit Pouliot of the Sudbury Wolves.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Ottawa | 29 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 24 | +9 |
Ryan Callahan, RW - Guelph Storm, OHL
Height: 5’10, Weight: 180 lbs., DOB – 1985-03-21
Ryan Callahan, a fourth round pick in 2004, is in his third year with the Guelph Storm of the OHL. The New York native is currently representing the defending champion United States at the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championships in North Dakota. In 68 games last season he had 68 points and a rating of +17. Noted for having good speed and agility, Callahan also possesses strong passing skills. In 32 games this season he has 16 goals and 27 points, which places him second on the team in scoring behind Storm rookie Matt D'Agostini.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Guelph | 32 | 16 | 11 | 27 | 53 | -3 |
Bruce Graham, C - Moncton Wildcats, QMJHL
Height: 6'6, Weight: 235 lbs., DOB - 1985-12-02
Bruce Graham, the 51st overall pick in the 2004 draft, was the second-highest rated skater from the QMJHL in the draft. In 68 games last season he had 57 points and 89 penalty minutes. The 6’6 center was named to the 2004 CHL Top Prospects game in 2004. Graham is noted for being a good skater with soft hands and a powerful slap shot. His passing and puck handling skills are also assets he is known for. In 38 games this season Graham's 21 goals are tops on the Wildcats and his 35 points place him in second behind San Jose prospect Steve Bernier.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Moncton | 38 | 21 | 14 | 35 | 40 | +10 |
Jonathan Paiement, D - Lewiston MAINEiacs, QMJHL
Height: 6'1, Weight: 201 lbs., DOB - 1985-03-07
An eighth round pick in 2004, Jonathan Paiement is in his fourth season in the QMJHL with the Lewiston MAINEiacs. Last season he was the top scoring defenseman on the team and third overall with 65 points in 68 games and his 52 assists were tops on the team. Noted for playing an offensive minded game and making good decisions with the puck, he also has an accurate shot. Paiement represented the QMJHL at the ADT Canada/Russia Challenge earlier this year. So far this season he has 38 points in 35 games, good for third on the team and his 34 assists are tops on the MAINEiacs.
2004-05 stats
| Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
| Lewiston | 35 | 4 | 34 | 38 | 110 | +14 |
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