Tonight is night one of the 2025 NHL Draft from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
Prince George Cougars netminder Josh Ravensbergen, the top rated north american goaltender is likely to hear his name called early in the proceedings.
The 18-year-old from North Vancouver sat down with WHL.ca to explain why he is a good fit for any franchise looking for that next blue chip goaltender.
“I feel like I am a winner. I want to win for the guys and I feel like my record the last three years has been really good and is a testament to how good my team was in front of me but I can make key saves in big situations.”
Ravensbergen added being overlooked in the WHL Prospects Draft a few years ago lit the spark for him to a reach a new level with the Cougars.
“I’d say it kind of opened my eyes to how hard you have to work in the summer. After I wasn’t picked, I was pretty pissed off and then I had a couple really big summers. I was on the ice as much as I could be learning how to work out and take care of my body. Those were a couple of really important lessons that I can rely on.”
He admits while this is a pretty fun weekend for his family, who have never been to Tinseltown before, getting your named called is just one step in reaching the ultimate goal.
“I just want to go and try to enjoy the moment and see what happens. Not getting drafted into the dub, kind reminds me it’s not where you go but what you do after. I am excited to see who calls my name and go from there.”
Two weeks ago, Ravensbergen and a number of the top-rated draft eligible prospects went to Buffalo to participate in the combine, a series of agility and fitness tests as well as a chance for players and teams to get to know one another.
The 18-year-old stated the interview process with NHL clubs was unique but not overwhelming.
“Most of the groups were really fun actually. I didn’t get any super-hard questions – most of them were really chill and the Rangers had a sheet they wanted me to fill out from one to a hundred and you had to find as many numbers as you could in 30 seconds. That was a little different.”
Cougar forwards Jett Lajoie, Aiden Foster and Ben Riche are also eligible to be picked this weekend.
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