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NHL draft tracker: Adin Hill, Portland Winterhawks

Portland's Adin Hill is one of the top goalies in the 2015 NHL draft class. (Winterhawks)
Portland's Adin Hill is one of the top goalies in the 2015 NHL draft class. (Winterhawks)

Adin Hill was by no means on any NHL team’s radar last year this time. He spent the majority of his 2013-14 season on the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks, posting a 3.92 average and .897 save percentage throughout 19 games.

Twelve months later, the Calgary, Alta., native is pegged as the top North American goaltender in the 2015 draft class according to International Scouting Services. He has earned this high praise by asserting himself as one of the top goalies in the WHL, using his size (6-foot-4, 198 pounds), excellent rebound control, quickness and instincts to post a 2.81 average and .921 save percentage in 46 contests.

“I think I’ve matured a lot since then,” says Hill on the difference between him this year and last season. “I do a lot more physically to prepare for games and have grown a lot over the past year. I’m also on a better team this year, so that has helped, too.”

The draft attention is something Hill couldn’t have predicted early on in the season, let alone a year ago. His 18-year-old season has been somewhat of a whirlwind when taking into account how far he has come in 12 months.

“I didn’t expect it to play out like it did,” he says. “I wanted to be the starter by Christmas – that was my goal. I’ve just kept on working hard and have a good team and things worked out pretty well this year for me.”

A big point in Hill’s season came when Portland Winterhawks GM-head coach Jamie Kompon traded veteran netminder Brendan Burke to the Calgary Hitmen near the trade deadline. It showed the Winterhawks’ hockey brass was sold on their rookie puck-stopper.

“It was a move that showed me that Jamie had a lot of confidence in me,” says Hill, who turned 19 in May. “It helped give me more confidence knowing I was the guy and the team was going with me.”

If the scouting services have gotten it right on Hill, it will be the first time he will hear his called in a draft. He, like many other elite talents, was passed over in the 2011 WHL bantam draft despite having a successful season with the Calgary Bantam AAA Bisons.

“I was only 5-foot-4, so it took me a bit longer to grow,” says Hill. “I did have a good bantam year, though. I thought there was a good chance I’d be drafted, but it didn’t happen.”

1. What part of your game do you feel stands out about you the most?

“My mental toughness. I work hard and compete on every play and never give up on a play. I’m determined to stop the puck and work hard to get in position.”

2. Is there a goalie in the NHL that you try to model your game after?

“I wouldn’t say one goalie, but I like certain parts of goalies’ games like Pekka Rinne and Carey Price. Rinne competes really hard and Price’s technical aspects are two examples.”

3. What’s your favourite movie or TV show?

Remember the Titans and Two and a Half Men. They are two different shows, but two great shows.”

4. Outside of Portland, what’s your favourite WHL arena to play in?

“I’d say Seattle (in the ShoWare Center against the Thunderbirds). They have rowdy fans and it is a pretty good rivalry between us.”

5. If you weren’t entrenched in hockey, what other sport do you think you would pursue?

“Basketball. I love the game and love to the shoot the ball around when I get a chance. It’s kind of like hockey as it’s a fast-paced game and you’re moving up and down the court.”

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