By Drew Wilson

McNeill powers through NHL combine

Jun 8, 2011 | 7:35 AM

Mark McNeill has clearly established himself as one of the strongest players available for the NHL draft June 24 and 25 in Minnesota.

The Raider power forward was first or second in four strength categories at the NHL combine. The 18 year old from Edmonton tied for first among the 100 draft prospects pumping 13 reps at 150 pounds in the bench press.

Other results are enough to induce a hernia just reading about them. McNeill was first in the grip test squeezing 162 pounds with each hand. He was first in the push test at 366 pounds and second with a pull of 306 pounds. Results like that would lead you to believe McNeill will steam roll opposing WHL defensemen next season.

The toughest part of the combine fitness testing came in the 30 second sprint on the stationary bike, said McNeill.

“That was the one that got most of the guys, thirty seconds hard on the bike, it's a full out sprint. You are lying on the ground for 15 minutes after trying to recover.”

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

12h ago

National

Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds

16h ago

Budget woes

Golf and curling centre faces grim season without financial boost

19h ago

The combine is the last chance for players like McNeill to make an impression on NHL GM's and their scouts. However with the rigid and daunting schedule there is no time to get intimidated, said McNeill.

“There's hundreds of scouts and media there. There is no time to wait, we got there and went right into our first tests, and it was one test after another, it just kept on rolling.”

The interview process involving the NHL decision makers was just as rigorous, said McNeill.

“With 28 NHL teams, and it was an early morning up at 6, you're doing interviews all day with 30 minute breaks in between and finishing up at 6:30-7 o'clock every night. Yeah it was a pretty hectic schedule but it was all worth it in the end.”

Although he has been under the microscope since last summer and done countless interviews with NHL scouts, McNeill doesn't have a read on who may be most interested in him heading into the draft.

“It's hard to pick out one team that specifically seems to be more interested. It's so hard to get a read on teams when they are all in there basically asking the same sort of questions. I'm hoping to get the opportunity to get selected, but that's not the end of things, it's just an opportunity and that's where the work starts right there.”

There is no doubt McNeill will get that opportunity and hear his name called on June 24 as part of wall to wall television coverage of the first round. McNeill may be available when his home town Edmonton Oilers make their second selection in the first round, 19th overall. However, Mark maintains he has no preference.

Other Raiders on the NHL draft radar are defenseman Harrison Ruopp who is rumoured to be a potential second round pick after a strong second half and playoff. Coach and GM Bruno Campese says there have been inquiries from NHL sources about winger Todd Fiddler, defenseman Antoine Corbin and goalie Eric Williams. There are also suggestions top scorer Jonathan Parker may be one of those rare 19-year-old players picked in the late rounds.

dwilson@rawlco.com