broncos-hitmen-gawdin
Glenn Gawdin (middle) & Jake DeBrusk (photo by Darwin Knelsen for scbroncos.com)

Two Swift Current Broncos feature prominently in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings for this year's draft.

Jake DeBrusk is ranked 19th among North American Skaters while Glenn Gawdin comes in at 59th.

DeBrusk moved up five spots from the mid-term rankings after finishing sixth in the WHL in goals with 42 and leading the Broncos in both goals and points. There's a real possibility he could get his name called in the first round of the draft.

"I'm trying not to think about that stuff," DeBrusk told us before the end of the season. "It's always in the back of your head. I'm trying to prove everything I can to be a first round pick, but I wouldn't be mad or disappointed to go in the second round either. I think any round is good to be drafted in the NHL."

DeBrusk made a big leap in production from 39 points as a rookie to 81 as a sophomore. Improved speed was a part of that improvement.

"The most important one is probably my skating," he said. "I think I've gotten a lot faster. Over the off season I focused a lot on my leg power and strength. I find when I'm playing well I'm playing fast."

Gawdin dropped 22 spots from 37th in the mid-term rankings.  He finished the season with 54 points in 72 games.

"It's a huge honour to be in the mix with some of the draft eliglbe players that are talked out," Gawdin noted in a recent conversation. "It's something you dream about."

Both guys have been focal points throughout their two seasons with the Broncos and have drawn large groups of scouts to the Credit Union iPlex. They also both played in the CHL Top Prospects game this season.

"It's definitely helped (going through it together)," Gawdin noted. "Last year we were kind of in the same boat as well. We both knew we were going through the same thing so it's nice to kind of have someone to talk to."

Gawdin and DeBrusk now have nothing to do but wait and train after the Broncos lost out to Regina in the first round of the playoffs. The draft is scheduled for June in Florida.