It has been quite the hockey season for Estevan's Cole Fonstad, who recently returned from the Under-18 IIHF World Hockey Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

Fonstad spoke about his time in Russia, his summer in Saskatoon and the NHL Draft/Combine 

Fonstad began his year with the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders going unranked on the NHL's Central Scouting list. By mid-season, scouts started taking notice of his tremendous play, which saw him move into the rankings at 78 among North American skaters.

His play earned him a spot in the Canadian Hockey League's Top Prospects Game, where he scored a goal for Team Orr in a 7-4 loss to Team Cherry.

At the end of the Prince Albert Raiders regular season, Fonstad amassed 21 goals and 52 assists in 72 games, to stay above a point-per-game pace. Heading into the playoffs, the Raiders shocked many by going on an incredible run to qualify for the post season, then took the league leading Moose Jaw Warriors to a game seven, where Fonstad scored 4 goals and 1 assists in those 7 games.

After being ousted from the playoffs, Fonstad saw his draft ranking move up to 65 among North American skaters. Gaining attention from Hockey Canada, Fonstad was selected as one of 23 players to play in the Under-18 IIHF World Hockey Championships in Russia.

Now back on home soil for the last two weeks, the 17-year-old has spent his time preparing for the NHL Draft Combine by training in Saskatoon. 106 of the NHL's top prospects have received the invite to Buffalo, where they will be poked, prodded, questioned, and put to the test during a number of psychical and mental examinations.

Fonstad will be in Buffalo for the Draft Combine from May 27 to June 2. His focus will then shift to the the NHL Draft, which takes place in Dallas on June 22.