McColgan dishes on final ranks and WHL playoffs

Shane McColgan is a right wing for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. McColgan, the only U.S.-born player selected in the first round of the WHL's 2008 bantam draft, finished runner-up to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer Rebels) as the league's top rookie in 2009-10 after posting 25 goals and 69 points in 71 games. Through 67 regular season games this season, McColgan led the team with 45 assists and 66 points, including 21 goals. The native of Manhattan Beach, Calif., rated No. 103 on NHL Central Scouting's mid-term release of North American skaters in January, has offered to maintain a monthly blog for NHL.com that will chronicle his season leading up to the NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minn.

Hello everyone. Here's a quick blog update for you since there are so many meetings and schedules to keep at playoff time.

I heard that Central Scouting will have their final draft meeting for rating the prospects this weekend. I had a few interviews with members of the media, but it hasn't really been too bothersome. I haven't really had a lot of media attention, which is a good thing, so you don't think about it too much. Whatever happens, happens. But I'm really looking forward to the Draft come June.

Fortunately, Kelowna captain Tyson Barrie (Colorado Avalanche, drafted 64th overall, 2009) has gone through this process and can help me. He's given good advice already, telling me not to worry about the ratings too much. He was rated pretty high (No. 52 among North American skaters) and he dropped a little bit and went in the third round. That's kind of my situation right now, but at the end of the day, you still have to make the team no matter what round it is and that's my ultimate goal.

Through the whole regular season, it was a good race between us and Vancouver (in the Western Conference). Over the last 20 games, we showed what we could do and pulled ahead of Vancouver quite a bit (by 12 points) and got that second seed in the West (behind Portland), which was huge for us.

We're up 3-games-to-0 in our first playoff series with Prince George and just hope to keep it going (in Game 4 Wednesday in Prince George).

In three playoff games, I have 1 goal and 6 assists (and team-high 7 points). As long as I can contribute and the team is still winning, then I'm fine with that. Obviously, I have to produce a little bit more offensively in the goal department and that's going to come. I've been close in the last couple of games and if one goes in, I know I'll get on a little role, so it's just a matter of time. I just have to keep working hard.

I think it was a good regular season for me individually (with a team-leading 45 assists and 66 points in 67 games). I think I would have liked to score a few more goals (21) but the most important thing is we had a good regular season as a team and we finished with over 40 wins which is pretty cool. We got that second seed in the West. For me, I'm happy with it but for the team, I'm really happy.

Until next time, enjoy the playoffs!