JC Lipon, Myles Bell among undrafted 19-year-olds making their mark in the WHL

It seems every year a handful of undrafted 19-year-olds blossom into stars in the Western Hockey League. It is tough to say whether they're just late bloomers or they haven't been given the opportunity to breakout into stars up until their second last year of major junior eligibility.

This year appears to be no exception. There are several 19-year-olds making their mark as elite impact players.

Precedents show a head-turning breakout season can extend a player's career from the junior ranks to the pros. After Craig Cunningham broke out in his fourth season with the Vancouver Giants by scoring 97 points in 2009-10, he was drafted 97th overall by the Boston Bruins. The same can be said about former Kootenay Ice puck-stopper Nathan Lieuwen. Once Lieuwen was finally able to stay healthy and lead his Ice to an Ed Chynoweth Cup, the Buffalo Sabres selected him 167th in the 2011 draft.

A hot start and a breakout season are two different things. But if these veterans can continue their outstanding starts to their 19-year-old seasons, they should receive at least an NHL tryout by season's end.

Kamloops Blazers winger JC Lipon easily stands out the most. He has been red hot this season, leading the league in points with 13 goals and 37 points in 15 games. He is on pace to put up 177 points. Obviously, it seems quite unlikely Lipon will not cool down from his current outrageous scoring pace. Still, if he drops his point-production pace by a full point per game, he will finish the year with 122 points in 72 games. That's not too shabby for a player passed over in the past two NHL drafts, let alone his bantam draft.

Lipon should have no trouble consistently putting his name on the score sheet this year because of the outstanding talent he is surrounded by in Kamloops. The Regina, Sask., native skates alongside the likes of Colorado Avalanche prospect Colin Smith, Montreal Canadiens prospect Tim Bozon, and overage sniper Brendan Ranford. With that said, some may question how much Lipon's ultra-skilled teammates inflate his stats.

The Kelowna Rockets' experiment of putting Myles Bell on forward has really paid off. The

Calgary native has looked great beside Nashville Predators second-rounder Colton Sissons and Dylen McKinlay, scoring nine goals and 23 points in 15 games. He does still play on the point on the power play, though.

Bell would have been drafted in his first year of draft eligibility back in 2011. He was ranked 39th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting Service's final rankings. But concerns involving legal issues and his health from a car accident kept all 30 teams from selecting him.

Bell was invited to the New York Rangers' prospect development camp this past summer. The writing is on the wall for the 6-foot, 210-pounder to receive an NHL contract if he stays on the path he is on.

Blazers goaltender Cole Cheveldave can be credited for Kamloops' 14-0-0-1 start just as much as their top goal scorers can. The 19-year-old has been a brick wall, maintaining a 1.95 average and a .926 save percentage.

Blazers play-by-play announcer Jon Keen pointed out on Twitter he believes Cheveldave deserves to be on Canada's world junior radar. As noted by Keen, it seems Cheveldave's small 5-foot-10, 173-pound stature and not having an NHL camp under his belt will likely hold him back, though.

Nonetheless, despite the world juniors not appearing to be in the cards, an appearance in the MasterCard Memorial Cup in Saskatoon seems to be very possible for Cheveldave and his Blazers.

It is safe to say not even Curtis Valk's mother would have expected someone other than top 2013 NHL draft prospect Hunter Shinkaruk to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers in scoring this year. But 16 games into the Tigers' season, Valk, a 5-foot-8, 162-pound centre, has a one-point edge on Shinkaruk with 13 goals and 24 points.

Valk and 18-year-old rookie Mike Koules, who has 13 points, have helped lessen the blow of the Tigers losing Anaheim Ducks prospect Emerson Etem to the pros. Their impressive play combined with recently receiving some puck-stopping help by acquiring overage Cam Lanigan from the Portland Winterhawks will give Medicine Hat every opportunity to get into the second season.

The Swift Current Broncos have scored two or fewer goals in ten of their 17 games this season. This lack of scoring should have them on the outside looking in of a playoff spot.

But thanks to the incredible play of Eetu Laurikainen in the blue paint, the Broncos currently sit in eighth spot in the Eastern Conference with a 6-7-3-1 record. He has been in net for all of the Broncos' six wins, posting a .919 save percentage and a 2.67 average in 15 games.

Unlike the rest of these 19-year-old standouts, Laurikainen is a rookie. He was selected 20th overall by Swift Current in the past CHL import draft out of Finland.

Spokane Chiefs' Mitch Holmberg, Moose Jaw Warriors' Sam Fioretti, and Brandon Wheat Kings' Alessio Bertaggia have been on a tear up front for their squads. The three snipers, who have 23, 21, and 18 points respectively, are all top-15 scorers in the Dub.

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen.