By Drew Wilson

McNeill hits the pro ranks

Apr 1, 2013 | 4:35 PM

The Chicago Blackhawks have assigned Prince Albert Raiders captain Mark McNeill to the Rockford Ice Hogs of the American Hockey League.

The 19-year-old led the Raiders in scoring for the second consecutive year, notching 25 goals and 42 assists for 67 points along with 43 penalty minutes in 65 games played.

The Edmonton product finished his career eighth on the Raiders all-time games played list, with 276 and ninth in franchise assists, recording 146 helpers.

The 6’2”, 210-pound forward selected by the Blackhawks in the first round, 18th overall of the 2011 NHL draft, also finished just two points shy of the top-10 scorers in the franchise’s 42-year history, posting 243 career points.

McNeill was the first Raider to represent Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships since Kyle Chipchura in 2006 when he donned the Red and White for the 2013 World Juniors in Ufa, Russia this winter.

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Last year, McNeill racked up 12 penalty minutes in seven games with Rockford following the conclusion of the Raiders season. The Ice Hogs currently sit three points out of a playoff spot in the AHL’s Western Conference with nine games remaining in their regular season.

Meanwhile 20-year-old defenseman Davis Vandane has signed a pro tryout contract with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads and Eastern Conference rookie of the year Leon Draisaitl will play for Germany at the upcoming World under-18 championships in Sochi, Russia.

Raider defenseman Josh Morrissey is likely to be selected for Team Canada. The first round NHL draft prospect played on the last year's team that captured bronze. The Calgary native also won gold last summer with Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka under-18 memorial tournament in the Czech Repulic.

dwilson@panow.com

On Twitter: @RaidersVoice