WHL: Wudrick - a Swift and Current Bronco

Swift Current Broncos forward Geordie Wudrick has caught the attention of most scouts this season due to his eye-catching blend of speed and size. He projects to be a top- 40 pick this season in an otherwise slow year in Swift Current for draft prospects. Along with notes on Wudrick, McKeen's correspondent Randy Gorman profiles three other Broncos looking to bust-out in the later rounds of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Geordie Wudrick (2008), LW, Swift Current Broncos

Wudrick (6-2, 196), hit the 20-goal plateau, and finished with 44 points in 66 games .. simply put, this kid can skate, as he has very good speed and can twist on a dime with some great shifty moves .. he has good hands and is considered a sniper .. shows a willingness to compete every game with tireless grit and determination .. uses his size to his advantage, throws good bodychecks and is physically active throughout the game .. one knock on Wudrick was his defensive game and coming back in his own end, but he has vastly improved and it showed in the second half of the season, as he finished with a plus-10 rating .. works hard along the boards and protects the puck well .. not afraid to take a hit or deliver one to make a play .. works hard on the forecheck .. will likely be a late-first, or second-round pick this season, as most scouts are high on him due to his speed and size combination.

Matt Tassone (2008), C, Swift Current Broncos

Tassone (6-0, 200), put up decent numbers in 60 games with19 goals, and 36 points .. a good skater and has the ability to be a game breaker, but he lacks consistency and must prove that he can play to his size .. he is very talented but needs to bring better decision-making to his game and improve his overall hockey IQ .. he should have had better numbers, and next season, the Broncos will be relying on him to shoulder a lot of the offense .. he has to better at reading plays and must play with more of a competitive edge .. to his credit, he has worked on his defensive game in his own end and finished on the plus side of the ledger with a plus-16 rating .. Tassone still has some parts of his game to work out, but he stands a chance of being a late-round selection.

Jan Dalecky (2008), LW, Swift Current Broncos

The Czech-import played in 62 games scoring just 6 goals and finishing with 15 points .. he found it difficult ( as most European players do), adjusting to the North American-style-of game and constantly found himself at the other end of punishing bodychecks .. he eventually settled into a checking role and finished the season with an even plus/minus rating .. Dalecky (5-10, 165), is a good skater with above average speed, but he was constantly pounded in the WHL last season and will have to bulk up in the off-season with a weight-training program .. possesses excellent passing skills, as he can thread the puck through traffic with amazing accuracy .. defensively, he has a lot to learn in his own end, but he will have time to harness his skills in that area of the game over the next few seasons .. displays good hands and can finish plays, but is often knocked-over easily because of his lack of size and strength on his skates .. likely will not be drafted this season but he bears watching for future drafts.

Mike Brown (2008), RW, Swift Current Broncos

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound winger only appeared in 38 games this season scoring three goals and adding two .. Brown has to work on his skating and foot speed to advance to the pro level .. a pretty passer and looks to set up his teammates with his hard work along the perimeters .. physically, he is tough as nails, throws good bodychecks and is not afraid to drop the gloves .. defensively, he needs lots of work in knowing where to make the right play in his own en .. shows a lot of determination, a willingness to learn from the coaching staff and is always looking to improve .. will likely not garner much attention at the draft, but he has fourth-line-NHL potential down the road if he continues to improve.