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American skater according to Central Scouting. One of the more interesting questions emerging from the 2008 NHL Scouting Combine was Justin Jokinen's predicted draft spot. As the No. 54-ranked North American skater, he projects as a third- or fourth-round selection. NHL teams have to decide whether they are getting the Minnesota high school junior right wing who had 26 goals and 51 points whi football shirts le playing with center Tyler Johnson -- now at Colorado College -- or the senior center who had only 21 goals and 39 points while playing alongside younger players. Now, factor in that Jokinen, without Johnson, led Cloquet to a 15-12-2 record in 2007-08 and the state Class AA tournament for only the second time in 15 years. Jokinen was nominated for the prestigious state Mr. Hockey Award as the o football shirts utstanding senior high school player in Minnesota, and he was an honorable mention on the 2008 Associated Press All-State Minnesota boys hockey team. Jokinen is 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds, with plenty of room to grow, and NHL teams sure are keen on big centers with a scoring touch. Add his excellent performance at the physical testing at the Combine, and Jokinen could go even earlier than expected. football shirts Central Scouting doesn't release the results of physical testing, except to the NHL member teams, but it was obvious Jokinen was among the best in the vertical leap, an indication of lower-body strength. -Justin moved to center this year,- said NHL Central Scouting-s Jack Barzee. -He ended up carrying his team to the state tournament. He is tall and skinny right now, but he-s a lot like Jamie Lan football shirts genbrunner was at that age, with a little bit different intensity than Langenbrunner had. When Justin kicks that intensity up he has that snap and finesse that allows him to make big plays. Fienhage a skater, not a singer Minnesota high school star Cory Fienhage enjoys singing and football, but hockey is his true passion. He shot up the Central Scouting rankings this season, and is focused o football shirts n reaching his goal of playing in the NHL. Draft Dandies archive Ottawa 2008 Draft Central Get your 2008 Draft Center Ice Stretch Fit Hat now! -I had been playing right wing since my sophomore season,- Jokinen said. -Guys graduated so I filled the center role and others stayed in positions that they were comfortable with. I played right wing the year before, a position that I like. I was pla football shirts ying with guys who were probably a little better than this year, guys who went on to play college hockey. Playing with someone of the same skill caliber made it a little easier.- Jokinen's junior success produced early offers from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., and the University of Anchorage-Alaska. His success this past season, which saw him rise from No. 60 in Central Scouting's mid-term ran football shirts kings in January, produced more college offers. Some schools wanted him to play a year of junior hockey this coming season, but after starring against similar players in the Minnesota Elite League last fall, Jokinen felt he was ready for college. Troy Jutting, the coach at the Minnesota State University-Mankato, agreed, so Jokinen will go there in September unless the NHL team that drafts him has football shirts other ideas. -It's close to home yet far enough to be on my own,- Jokinen said. -They have new facilities and I liked the program. I especially liked coach Jutting and I'm looking forward to playing there. -I'm going to work my hardest every second of every minute, on and off the ice, and I will be the best player I can be for that program.- Author: John McGourty | NHL.com Staff Writer football shirts
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