ESPN.com: NHL - Central Scouting Service midseason rankings

A 6-2, 204-pound native of Mississauga, Ontario, Spezza has 20 goals and 34 assists in 27 games and is among the scoring leaders in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was a member of the Canadian team that won the bronze medal at the recent World Junior Championships in Moscow and was named to the all-tournament team.

The midseason rankings are compiled by the NHL's Central Scouting Service and feature the top 240 skaters and top 30 goaltenders in North America along with the top 100 skaters and top seven goaltenders in Europe.

The 2001 draft will be held on June 23-24 in Sunrise, Florida.

Plymouth Whalers center Stephen Weiss is ranked second among North American skaters. The 5-11½, 178-pound native of Toronto is third in the OHL in scoring with 26 goals and 33 assists in 36 games.

Prince George Cougars defenseman Dan Hamhuis is third, with Ohio State center R.J. Umberger as the top-ranked U.S. college player at No. 4. Swift Current Broncos right wing Duncan Milroy rounds out the top five.

The top-rated North American goaltending prospect is Pascal Leclaire of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Left wing Ilja Kovalchuk of Spartak is the top European skating prospect. Center Alexander Svitov, a teammate of Kovalchuk on the Russian National junior team, is rated second. Center Mikko Koivu, the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu, is ranked fifth.

TOP 10 NORTH AMERICAN SKATERS

Rk Name Team (League) Birthdate Ht. Wt. Pos. Shot

1. Jason Spezza Windsor (OHL) Jun. 13, 1983 6-2 204 C R

2. Stephen Weiss Plymouth (OHL) April 3, 1983 5-11½ 178 C L

3. Dan Hamhuis Prince George (WHL) Dec. 12, 1982 6-0½ 195 D L

4. R.J. Umberger Ohio State (CCHA) May 3, 1982 6-1½ 198 C L

5. Duncan Milroy Swift Current (WHL) Feb. 8, 1983 6-0 175 RW R

6. Ryan Whitney U.S. National U-18 Feb. 19, 1983 6-4 200 D L

7. Jay Harrison Brampton (OHL) Nov. 3, 1982 6-3 200 D L

8. Marc Popovic Toronto-St. Mike's Oct. 11, 1982 6-1 194 D L

9. Mike Komisarek Michigan (CCHA) Jan. 19, 1982 6-4 232 D R

10. Tim Gleason Windsor (OHL) Jan. 29, 1983 6-½ 199 D L

TOP 10 NORTH AMERICAN GOALTENDERS

Rk Name Team (League) Birthdate Ht. Wt. Pos.

1. Pascal Leclaire Halifax (QMJHL) Nov. 7, 1982 6-1 185 L

2. Daniel Blackburn Kootenay (WHL) May 20, 1983 6-0 180 L

3. Daniel Boisclair Cape Breton (QMJHL) Nov. 2, 1982 6-1 186 L

4. Adam Munro Erie (OHL) Nov. 12, 1982 6-1 187 L

5. Michael Garnett Red Deer (WHL) Nov. 25, 1982 6-1 185 L

TOP 10 EUROPEAN SKATERS

Rk Name Team (League) Birthdate Ht. Wt. Pos. Shot

1. Ilja Kovalchuk Spartak (Russia) April 15, 1983 6-2 202 W R

2. Alexander Svitov Omsk (Russia) Nov. 3, 1982 6-3 198 C L

3. Tuomo Ruutu Jokerit (Finland) Feb. 16, 1983 6-2 196 C/W L

4. Mikko Koivu TPS (Finland) March 12, 1983 6-2 178 C L

5. Stanislav Chistov Omsk (Russia) April 17, 1983 5-10 169 W R

6. Fredrik Sjostrom Frolunda (Sweden) May 6, 1983 6-0 198 W L

7. Egor Shastin Omsk (Russia) Sept. 10, 1982 5-10 167 W L

8. Alexander Perejougin Omsk (Russia) Aug. 10, 1983 5-11 178 W L

9. Jiri Novotny Budejovice (Czech) Aug. 12, 1983 6-2 189 C R

10. Alexander Polushin Tver (Russia) May 8, 1983 6-2 187 W L

TOP 10 EUROPEAN GOALTENDERS

Rk Name Team (League) Birthdate Ht. Wt. Pos.

1. Tomas Duba Sparta Jr. (Czech) July 2, 1981 6-0 176 L

2. Andrei Medvedev Spartak (Russia) April 1, 1983 6-0 220 L

3. Tuomas Nissinen Kalpa Jr. (Finland) July 17, 1983 6-0 176 L

4. Kristoffer Olsson Brynas (Sweden) April 18, 1983 5-9 147 L

5. Mathias Schoder Winterthur (Switz.) July 20, 1982 5-11 161 L

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