Try not to think about how long ago this was taken. (Photo: Jana Chytilova)

Millions of Canadians have just endured a three-day heat wave that saw temperatures hit levels not seen in a decade. This can only mean one thing: It is time to think about hockey, and the NHL Entry Draft.  

The first round will begin at 7 p.m. ET tomorrow (Sportsnet), with rounds two through seven beginning at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday (Sportsnet). The NHL has a full, real-time tracker on its website, and you can follow it right here.  

Here are some resources to get you ready for the big weekend.  

You’ll need a subscription for this one, but The Athletic has published this comprehensive draft ranking. There’s a lot of information in here, so make sure your coffee is already filled before you dive in. It’s right here.  

The NHL has its own ranking, featuring several familiar faces for those who have spent the last several winters huddled inside OHL arenas. Here’s looking at you, Michael Misa and Porter Martone. You can check that one out right here.  

Bob McKenzie has returned from his partial retirement to post his NHL draft rankings here, on TSN’s website: “The true testament to defenceman Matthew Schaefer’s prodigious talent and boundless potential as the undisputed No. 1 prospect in the NHL’s Class of 2025 can be found in the numbers.” You can read more right here. 

Still not enough draft content? Scott Wheeler has a mock draft for the first two rounds right here, at The Athletic. You’ll need a subscription to read it. It’s right here.  

In Sudbury, our Ben Leeson looks at draft hopeful Hudson Chitaroni, “It’s an invite to the dance," he tells Leeson. You can read the whole thing right here.  

A little further west, in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, our Darren Zary takes a look at Roger McQueen, an 18-year-old centre with the Brandon Wheat Kings. “It’s exciting going into the draft and kind of being the wild-card, as everyone says," McQueen tells Zary. You can read that story right here. 

Porter Martone: From Brampton to the NHL? (Photo: Bob Davies, file)

Mike Davies has been covering the Petes for years at the Peterborough Examiner, and he is one of the best at what he does. This week, he’s unearthed a fascinating bit of local hockey trivia: Porter Martone could claim his own page in the local history books this week.  

“The 18-year-old has an opportunity to make Peterborough hockey history on Day 1 of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on Friday night," Davies writes. "Craig Button, former NHL general manager and TSN hockey analyst, ranks Martone the fourth overall prospect ahead of the draft.” 

According to Davies, no product of the Peterborough minor hockey system has heard their name called before the fifth overall pick.  

“Anything can happen on draft day,” Martone tells Davies. “You might think you have an idea what’s going to happen but you really don’t.” 

You can read the whole thing right here.

Jay McKee returns to Brantford. (Photo: Brian Thompson, The Expositor)

He’d better love the city, after signing a three-year contract extension earlier this month to remain on the bench in Brantford.  

The Bulldogs have undergone waves of change this year, from the ownership to the front office — with both now dominated by the same family, after Stuart Hyman and sons Zach and Spencer bought the team from Michael Andlauer.  

McKee was briefly tied to speculation around the coaching vacancy in Philadelphia, but his return guarantees at least one familiar face for returning Bulldogs players.  

“There’s a lot of talent in our dressing room but for me, consistent success takes a lot more than just having talented players,” he tells our Brian Smiley. “We have to put this together and get everyone to learn to play on the same page and the right way. Every year brings new challenges. 

You can read the whole story right here.  

(Photo: Michelle Berg, Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

The road to the top can be lonely, sometimes. NHL Draft prospect Roger McQueen trains by himself in the corner at Next Level Training Strength Systems Inc., in Saskatoon.