By Ron Matejko, MVP Magazine
Photo By Dave Arnold, USA Hockey

Arizona has come a long way in producing hockey talent with the Valley seeing a boom in youth and junior hockey players since the Phoenix Coyotes arrived in 1996. While the area is not a hotbed, it is beginning to generate a steady stream of players who are earning college hockey scholarships with a few even being drafted by the National Hockey League.

The latest prospect is Paradise Valley native Luke Moffatt, who entered last season as one of the top ranked 1992-born forwards in the United States. The 6-1, 187-pound center ranked 95th among all North American born skaters in the final Central Scouting Service rankings with projections seeing him selected anywhere from the third round on.

“It’s not a hockey hotbed, but hockey just stuck with me and I loved it ever since,” Moffatt told the Toronto Star. “I just remember loving the learn-to-skate program, then house league, then you’re moving up the ladder.”

The power forward dropped 20 spots from the midterm rankings, as his 15 points in 28 games for U.S.A. Hockey’s elite National Team Development Program was below the lofty expectations many held.

Despite that perception, the former Phoenix Firebird hopes to become just the fourth Arizonan drafted in the NHL joining Phillip Samuelsson (2nd round, 2009), Dusty Collins (5th round, 2004) and Jim Brown (5th round, 1979). FYI, David Spina was not drafted and signed his first pro contract as a free agent.

After spending two years with Team USA, Moffatt will play this fall at the University of Michigan after turning down offers from other elite programs including Boston College, Maine, Notre Dame, and Colorado College. He decided to go the NCAA route, like his father Kenny who played at NAU, despite being selected second overall by the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League bantam draft last summer.

Moffatt is projected to be drafted anywhere from the fourth round on.

The 2010 NHL Draft will be held June 25-26 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The first round will take place on Friday (VERSUS, 4 p.m.) and rounds 2-7 will be conducted on Saturday. The NHL Network will have live coverage on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.

Scouting Report:
Very high-energy…does a very good job attacking the puck on defense…very strong on his skates…does all the little things right and the puck seems to find him…has offensive skills, may just need some more confidence to really shine…draws comparison to Daniel Briere.

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PHOENIX COYOTES SELECTIONS IN THE 2010 NHL ENTRY DRAFT

Round 1 – 13th overall
Round 1 – 22nd overall
Round 2 – 52nd overall
Round 4 – 113th overall
Round 5 – 138th overall

Note: This story originally appeared in the June issue of MVP Magazine.