FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALGARY — It’s crunch time for playoff-bound prospects looking to make a final push for the 2014 NHL Draft.

And as the level of importance rises, so to does the play of both Sam Reinhart and Aaron Ekblad.

Reinhart, FC Pacific4 Sports Forward of the Month for March, is scorching up the Western Hockey League playoffs, recording five goals and 17 points in helping his Kootenay Ice to a six-game opening series win over the Calgary Hitmen.

Ekblad has been no slouch either, recording a goal in two assists in four games for the Barrie Colts. Unfortunately, the 18-year-old wasn’t in the lineup for Barrie’s Game 5 clinching win over the Sudbury Wolves after sustaining a lower body injury.

Sam Bennett, ranked third by Future Considerations, will see his Kingston Frontenacs play a seventh game against the Peterborough Petes on April 1. In the opening six games of the series, Benentt — who recorded 31 goals and 60 assists in 57 regular season games — has eight points.

William Nylander, ranked fourth, is in a playoff push of his own playing with MODO’s junior team after spending time with the big club and stints with Rögle and Södertälje. Fifth-ranked Leon Draisaitl’s WHL season came to an end when the Edmonton Oil Kings swept his Prince Albert Raiders in the first round.

1). D Aaron Ekblad, Barrie (OHL), 6-4, 215
2). C Sam Reinhart, Kootenay (WHL), 6-1, 185
3). C/LW Sam Bennett, Kingston (OHL), 6-0, 180
4). C William Nylander, MODO (SHL), 5-11, 170
5). C Leon Draisaitl, Prince Albert (WHL), 6-2, 210
6). LW/C Michael Dal Colle, Oshawa (OHL), 6-2, 180
7). LW Nick Ritchie, Peterborough (OHL), 6-2, 230
8). LW Nikolaj Ehlers, Halifax (QMJHL), 5-11, 165
9). LW Brendan Perlini, Niagara (OHL), 6-2, 205
10). D Haydn Fleury, Red Deer (WHL), 6-3, 200

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