David Carle and the Denver Pioneers have struck gold again, as they have now received an official commitment from Ryan Lin, the top-ranked 2008 birth year in the entire world. Lin, a 17-year-old from Richmond, British Columbia, is a top 15 prospect for this year’s rendition of the NHL Draft. Many analysts have him in the mid to low 10s, while even FloHockey compliments Lin as the #9 prospect. Lin finished his second full season in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants as a shining star on a team that could’ve used some more reinforcements. The Giants finished last in the Western Conference at a record of 25-39-2-2. Lin led the team in points with 57, with the next player having 44, and was a Western Conference second-team all-star. He was a catalyst of the power play, tacking on 21 power play assists and 24 power play points, leading anyone else by 10 or more in each of those categories. The Canadian finishes his WHL career with an incredible 122 games and 112 points before even being 18 years old. For Denver, the nation of Canada has delivered gifts to them in recruitment before. Four of the top eight scorers this year on the Pioneers are Canadian, while 46.2% of the entire team represents them as well, including the strengthened goaltender room of Quentin Miller and Johnny Hicks. The NCHC champion Denver looks to the present, where it’ll take on Michigan in the Frozen Four on April 9. No matter the result of next weekend, the future looms bright for a prolific Pioneers program.
