Flin Flon's own Justin Lies is making waves in major junior hockey, earning a spot on NHL Central Scouting's latest "Players to Watch" list.
The Central Scouting Service (CSS) issues its own lists of NHL Draft-eligible players each year, showing the best players in the world able to be selected. Lies made the CSS' latest list, which was published Oct. 19.
Each prospect is given an "A", "B" or "C" rating based on scouts' criteria - Lies was given a "C" rating, which CSS says "indicates a 4th-5th-6th round candidate" in the biggest league in the world's annual seven-round draft.
If selected in next summer's draft, Lies would become the first Flin Flonner picked by an NHL club in more than 25 years. The last player from Flin Flon selected was Matt Davidson, who went to the Buffalo Sabres in the fourth round back in 1995.
Lies, who turns 18 next month, plays for the WHL's Vancouver Giants. Through three games this season in western Canada's top junior league, the Flin Flonner has three points, including a goal. Last season, Lies put up eight points in 21 games with the Giants in a special bubble environment for the league's B.C. teams. Lies also started last season with the Flin Flon Bombers, playing in the team's lone home game in front of family and friends before the SJHL suspended play for the season.
Growing up, Lies played with Flin Flon Minor Hockey programs, as well as the Norman Wolves U15 AAA team. He and his younger brother Joey, also from Flin Flon and a prospect of the WHL's Swift Current Broncos, hold most of the Wolves' scoring records - both also captained the Wolves. Lies moved from Flin Flon at age 14 to play at Winnipeg's Rink Hockey Academy and played for Manitoba at the 2018 Canada Winter Games.
