Mark Stone

Brandon, Manitoba -- The 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft goes this weekend in Los Angeles and for at least two members of the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings, it could turn out to be one of the most exciting times of their hockey careers.

Forwards Mark Stone and Michael Ferland are certainly on the radar when it comes to scouts around the NHL but unlike last season when Brayden Schenn and Scott Glennie were selected in the opening round of the draft, there is no guarantee that either Wheat King will hear their names called this weekend.

Stone is the highest rated Wheat King player, ranked 119th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, while the independent Red Line Report has him 97th among all eligibile players.

“I'm not too sure what to expect really,” Stone recently told Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun. “My name's popped up but I'm not sure if I'm going to be drafted or if any teams have even thought of me. But I'm pretty excited to see what happens.”

Local product Michael Ferland meanwhile was ranked 146th by Central Scouting after a solid rookie year in the Western League.

“It's been on my mind a lot lately,” he told the Sun. “I'm just trying to not think about it too much but whatever happens, if I do get drafted it'll be really exciting and pretty good experience for me.”

A former AAA Midget scoring star with the Brandon AAA Wheat Kings, Ferland scored nine goals and 28 points in 61 games this past season while Stone had 11 goals and 28 points in only 39 games as injuries forced him to miss 33 games during the regular season.

The Wheat Kings have had two players selected in each of the last two NHL Entry Drafts. While Schenn and Glennie went in the top ten of last year's proceedings, right-winger Matt Calvert and defenceman Colby Robak were taken in the 2008 draft. Both Calvert (Columbus) and Robak (Florida) recently signed Entry Level contracts with their respective NHL clubs.