Western Hockey League (WHL) and Brandon Wheat Kings star and potential number one overall pick in this year’s NHL entry draft Nolan Patrick will be unable to play in the 2017 World Junior Championship. The star center hasn’t played since Oct. 11th due to an upper-body injury. In July, Patrick had hernia surgery which caused him to miss the start of the season.
Nolan Patrick has not been medically cleared to attend the National Junior Team selection camp and will not play at @HC_WJC. No replacement.
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 6, 2016
Patrick has played in just six games this season, putting up four goals and five assists for nine points. Last season he led the WHL Champion Wheat Kings in scoring with 41 goals and 61 assists for 102 points in 72 games.
Nolan Patrick Not Playing in World Juniors
Patrick is ranked #1 in our latest NHL Prospect rankings. His game is described as follows:
Already 6’3″ tall, Patrick has excellent size and a strong and powerful skating stride. A natural sniper, he has a tremendous wrist shot and quick release. He also has quick, soft hands and can bury chances in close to the net. His game is incredibly mature for his age. He has high end hockey IQ and always seems to make the right play both with and without the puck. Patrick has excellent vision and passing skills.
He can play both the power and the finesse game. Patrick works well down low, using his big body to shield the puck and to make plays in the cycle game. He can get in quickly on the forecheck and forces opposing defencemen to make a quick play, or make a mistake. Patrick’s big frame is quite intimidating. He also plays a strong two-way game, and is even used to kill penalties. His uncle is James Patrick, a defenceman who spent many years in the NHL.
With Patrick out of the tournament, Canada’s top two centres are expected to be Dylan Strome and Mathew Barzal.
KELOWNA, CANADA – OCTOBER 25: Nolan Patrick #19 of Brandon Wheat Kings skates against the Kelowna Rockets on October 25, 2014 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)
