Ben Kindel, and other draft eligibles tearing it up right now
Ben Kindel is still hot.
Kindel continued his torrid pace in the 2024-25 season with another big week. The 17 year old netted nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games for Calgary in the Western Hockey League. The winger, No. 40 in FCHockey’s Winter ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft, exploded for five points (two goals, three assists) on Wednesday as Calgary rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the second period to win 6-4. After picking up a secondary assist on the game’s opening goal, Kindel scored two second-period goals to give the Hitmen a 3-2 lead. He added primary assists on the game’s tying goal and the Hitmen’s insurance goal by Sawyer Minio on the power play.
Kindel opened the scoring for the Hitmen with a backhand off a rebound in the team’s next game against Lethbridge, and added three assists, two on the power play, in the team’s final game of the week against the Red Deer Rebels.
The run puts Kindel at 77 points (27 goals, 50 assists) in 44 games on the season.
“Kindel has done a great job of being a threat as a playmaker and a shooter,” FCHockey scout Kareem Elshafey said. “With the puck on his stick, he’s most dangerous as a playmaker. For my money, he’s one of the best passers in the draft with the ability to make all kinds of passes to teammates in scoring opportunities. The finishing ability shows itself the most when he doesn’t have the puck. He finds space in the offensive zone which allows him to unleash his powerful one timers or quick snapshots.
Here’s who else turned in a strong performance over the past seven days:
Alexander Zharovsky, Tolpar Ufa (MHL)
Alexander Zharovsky played a big role in helping Tolpar Ufa maintain its lead in the MHL Eastern Conference Silver Division with eight points (four goals, four assists) in three wins. Zharovsky scored the overtime winner in Tolpar’s victory over Sibirskie Snaipery to start the week. He added a goal and a pair of assists in a second overtime win for the club. He finished the week with four points (two goals, two assists) as Tolpar dominated Snezhnye Barsy, beating them 10-2.
Zharovsky, an unranked prospect for the 2025 draft, has 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) in 37 games this season.
Michael Misa, Sagniaw Spirit (OHL)
Michael Misa continues to dominate in the Ontario Hockey League. The 17-year-old Saginaw center potted another eight points (two goals, six assists) in three games. He started the week with four points (one goal, three assists) in a barn burner 8-6 loss to Peterborough. Misa’s only strike in the contest was his fourth shorthanded tally of the campaign. Misa picked up a pair of secondary assists in Kingston on Friday as Saginaw fell 7-6 in a shootout. Misa polished off the week with a goal and an assist as Saginaw dominated Ottawa.
Misa, ranked No. 4 at FCHoceky, leads the OHL and Canadian Hockey League in scoring with 83 points (39 goals, 44 assists) in 41 games.
Philippe Veilleux, C, Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL)
Philippe Veilleux continues to be one of the most productive Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League skaters this season after a strong week which saw him post seven points (four goals, three assists) in three games for Val-d’Or. The undersized forward, who ranks No. 85 at FCHockey, scored in all three games last week, and posted back-to-back three-point efforts at the expense of Baie-Comeau on Friday and Sunday.
Veilleux has 51 points (22 goals, 29 assists) in 44 games this season.
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