South Muskoka Shield Alumnus Nikita Jevpalovs has been ranked 86th
overall for European Skaters in the upcoming 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The
rankings were done by the Central Scouting for their Mid-Season
rankings released on January 11th, 2012.



Jevpalovs has been climbing the draft rankings all season, bursting
onto the NHL scene in the IIHF World Junior Championships earlier this
month. Not only was Nikita Jevpalovs was the youngest player on Team
Latvia, he led the team in goal scoring, assists and total points.
Jevpalovs notched 2 goals and 3 assists in 6 games for his country.
Not only that, but on January 4th, Nikita reigned as Latvia’s hockey
hero. In a game which the loser would be relegated to Division I of
the World Junior Championships, Latvia and Denmark were in overtime
tied at 1-1. At the 1:43 mark, Jevpalovs grabbed the rebound from his
teammate’s shot and fired it through the legs of the Danish net minder.

Jevpalovs was not listed in Central Scouting’s first rankings. To
show just how fast Nikita is rising the rankings, he is the only player
in the publication with an incomplete profile.

For all draft eligible prospects participating in the tournament,
Jevpalovs finished tied for 8th in tournament scoring. Furthermore,
for all players that were 17 years old, Nikita finished second in
points.

Last year in the GMHL, Nikita was a dominating force for the South
Muskoka Shield. The forward recorded 48 goals and 43 assists in 41
matches; en route to being named the league’s most outstanding offensive
player.

TSN Draft Centre