Michigan Tech defenseman Chase Pietila looks for a teammate to pass to during a game this season. Pietila is ranked No. 108 among North American skaters for the upcoming 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech Huskies freshman defenseman Chase Pietila is ranked No. 108 in the NHL Central Scouting’s final ranking of North American skaters for the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft.

Pietila, a native of Howell, Michigan, skated in all 40 games for the Huskies in his first year. He led the team with 19 assists while scoring three goals. Pietila ranked fourth in the CCHA and eighth nationally amongst freshmen defensemen in assists. He also led the league and NCAA freshmen in penalty minutes (60).

Pietila, a 6-foot-3, 188-pound defenseman, played 175 games in the USHL for three seasons before coming to Tech. He was an alternate captain on Youngstown Phantoms’ Clark Cup Championship team in 2022-23. He played two seasons with Youngstown and one with Lincoln.

Future Husky Matthew Van Blaricom is also on the list and checks in at No. 139 in North American Skaters. Van Blaricom racked up 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) in 47 games for the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in 2023-24. He is the No. 2 ranked prospect in the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound right winger also had 16 points in 13 playoff games.

Central Scouting on Tuesday revealed its final list of the top North American skaters and goalies, and the top International skaters and goalies. Defenseman Anton Silayev of Torpedo in the Kontinental Hockey League is No. 1 on the final ranking of International skaters.

Central Scouting held its final meetings with a five-day, in-person session in Toronto earlier this month following a two-day video conference to discuss and finalize the regional lists.

The 2024 NHL Draft will reportedly be held at Sphere in Las Vegas, with the first round on June 28 and rounds 2-7 on June 29. The NHL Draft Lottery to determine the first 16 picks in the draft will be determined at a later date.