Ovechkin likely to be No. 1 pick in draft

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TORONTO -- Michigan sophomore Al Montoya topped the list of North American goaltenders eligible for the NHL draft in rankings released Wednesday.

While Montoya led the list of goalies in the league's Central Scouting Service rankings, Russian forward Alexander Ovechkin is likely to be the first pick when the Washington Capitals are on the clock at the June draft in Raleigh, N.C.

Ovechkin, a member of the gold medal-winning Russian team at last year's world junior tournament, is the top-ranked European skater. He had 13 goals and 10 assists in 53 games with Moscow Dynamo of the Russian Elite League.

Andrew Ladd of the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen was the top ranked North American skater. Ladd led WHL rookies in scoring and tied for 12th in the league overall with 30 goals and 45 assists in 71 games.

Following Ladd among leading North American skaters are defenseman Cameron Barker of Medicine Hat in the WHL, left wing Alexandre Picard of Lewiston in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, center Kyle Chipchura from Prince Albert of the WHL, and left wing Wojtek Wolski of Brampton in the Ontario Hockey League.

Montoya tops a list of North American goalies that also includes Devan Dubnyk of Kamloops in the WHL, David Shantz of Mississauga in the OHL, Justin Peters from Toronto St. Michaels in the OHL, and Jeff Glass of Kootenay in the WHL.

The final ranking features the top 231 skaters and 30 goaltenders in North America and top 161 skaters and 13 goaltenders from Europe. The first three rounds of the draft are June 26 with rounds four through nine the following day.

The Central Scouting Service provides scouting and evaluation of draft-eligible players to NHL clubs.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press

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