Medicine Hat Tigers rookie Cole Sillinger listens to coaching staff during a media break in a Western Hockey League game against the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 at the Canalta Centre. -- NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
Cole Sillinger isn’t about to let a bit of hype go to his head.
The 17-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers forward was given an A rating on NHL Central Scouting’s players to watch list Tuesday – one of just five Western Hockey League players to receive the honour.
While there’s no doubt it bodes well for his future – as A ratings are reserved for projected first-round NHL draft candidates – Sillinger says there are still seven months to prove he belongs at the top of that list.
“It’s just the start,” Sillinger said in a phone call with the News. “Any time there’s any recognition from the NHL, or NHL scouts, it feels good, but there’s a lot of work and the draft’s not in October.”
Sillinger joined up with the Tigers as the 11th overall pick in the 2018 WHL bantam draft and exploded into the league as a 16-year-old last season. While an upper-body injury held Sillinger out for 10 games, the 5-foot-11, 194-pound Regina product still finished fourth in rookie scoring with 22 goals and 31 assists in 48 games. Sillinger’s 1.10 points per game average was second among WHL rookies and first among 16-year-old players.
The dominant debut helped earn Sillinger a place near the centre of NHL Central Scouting’s radar alongside some big WHL names in Winnipeg Ice defenceman Carson Lambos and fellow forwards Dylan Guenther, of the Edmonton Oil Kings, Ryder Korczak, of the Moose Jaw Warriors and Conner Roulette, of the Seattle Thunderbirds.
“It’s an honour, I’m buddies with all those guys,” said Sillinger. “I know they all work extremely hard and I know they all want to get to the next level and ultimately make the NHL. It’s a good little confidence boost for all of us and a cool stepping stone.”
Sillinger was also joined on the players to watch list by Tabby teammate Dru Krebs. The 5-foot-11, 167-pound defenceman picked up a C rating from NHL Central Scouting after producing three goals and 10 assists with a plus-5 rating in 55 games as a rookie last season, but Sillinger says he expects Krebs’ stock will start rising once the WHL returns Jan. 8.
“I think he’s a little more of an under-rated player. I feel like people don’t know right now that he’s that good, but everyone in the Tigers organization knows that,” said Sillinger. “He’s such a good player, and obviously the family he comes from -his older brother (Peyton) being a first round pick and Dakota playing in the (WHL) and everything. Krebs for sure deserves to be on the list and it’s a big deal for both of us.”
For now, Sillinger says he’ll keep his nose to the grindstone, waiting for the chance to pick up right where he left off when Tigers hockey returns to the Canalta Centre in 2021.
“I’ll just keep training and keep doing what I’m doing here,” said Sillinger. “Summer’s been long for me. My brothers left at a normal time and I’m really not used to being home in September and October, but I guess a good way to look at it is more training time for myself and a chance for me to better some areas in my game. I feel like I’ve done that. I’ve got stronger, my lower body specifically. It’s been a good summer overall.”
