Alessandro Di Iorio & Beckham Edwards of Sarnia; CHL USA Prospects Challenge

Alessandro Di Iorio & Beckham Edwards of Sarnia; CHL USA Prospects Challenge

Author: National Hockey League November 26, 2025 Duration: 21:50
NHL Draft Class is on-site in Calgary for the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, and got to sit down with some of the future NHL stars, including Sarnia teammates Alessandro Di Iorio and Beckham Edwards. They talked about their seasons, what they like about each other as teammates, and see who could do better in a little trivia contest. Plus there's some discussion about the projected No. 1 pick of the 2026 NHL Draft, Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, and his season so far.

Ever wonder about the journey from a promising teenager to a name called at the podium? NHL Draft Class, presented by the National Hockey League, pulls back the curtain on that exact process. This isn't just a rundown of rankings; it's a series of conversations that get into the grit and character of the next generation of hockey stars. You'll hear directly from the prospects themselves-their training routines, personal motivations, and the nerves of draft day. The audio goes beyond the stats with analysis from scouts and league insiders who break down what makes each player unique, from a defenseman's hockey IQ to a forward's release. Tuning into this podcast feels like getting a backstage pass to the most pivotal moment in a young athlete's career. It captures the anticipation, the strategy from team war rooms, and the raw emotion of dreams becoming reality. For anyone fascinated by the future of the sport and the human stories behind the jerseys, this series offers a compelling, insider's perspective on how a draft class is built.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

NHL Draft Class
Podcast Episodes
S6: Nick Smith, NHL Central Scouting; Top OHL prospects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:57
Nick Smith of NHL Central Scouting joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss some of the top 2024 draft prospects from the Ontario Hockey League, among them Saginaw defenseman Zayne Parekh, Oshawa forward…
S6: John Williams, NHL Central Scouting; WHL top prospects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:50
John Williams of NHL Central Scouting joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss some of the top 2024 draft prospects from the Western Hockey League, among them Medicine Hat forward Cayden Lindstrom, and w…
S6: Pat Cullen, NHL Central Scouting; Top USHL/NTDP prospects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:19
Pat Cullen of NHL Central Scouting joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss some of the top 2024 draft prospects from the United States Hockey League and USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, a…
S6: Mock Draft 1.0; NHL Draft Lottery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:49
With the San Jose Sharks winning the NHL Draft Lottery and the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft, NHL Draft Class hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale go over their first mock draft, for the 16 teams in the…
S6: J-F Damphousse, NHL Central Scouting; Top QMJHL prospects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:07
J-F Damphousse of NHL Central Scouting joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss some of the top 2024 draft prospects from the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, among them Chicoutimi right wing Maxim…
S6: Al Jensen, NHL Central Scouting: Top goalie prospects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:51
Al Jensen, the goalie guru of NHL Central Scouting, joins the podcast to discuss the top goalies available, including Mikhail Yegorov of Omaha of the USHL and what pushed him up to No. 1 in Central Scouting's final ranki…