366 CHL Graduates Named to NHL Opening Night Rosters
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League proudly announced today that 366 CHL alumni are listed on National Hockey League opening day rosters representing over 53% of all players in the league to start the 2016-17 season.
Of the 366 players, 18 finished the 2015-16 season in the CHL including 14 who are returning-eligible as 18 and 19-year-old players led by Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles selected third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2016 NHL Draft.
The 366 CHL graduates on NHL rosters includes 173 players from the Ontario Hockey League, 126 from the Western Hockey League, and 67 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The London Knights lead all CHL clubs with 25 graduates on NHL rosters, followed by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds with 15, and the Kelowna Rockets with 14. The Arizona Coyotes have the most CHL graduates on their roster with 20, followed by the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers each with 17.
The CHL continues to be the number one supplier of talent to the NHL.
CHL Eligible Players on Active NHL Opening Day Rosters:
2016 NHL Draft (98-born):
Jakob Chychrun (Sarnia Sting) selected 16th overall by the Arizona Coyotes
Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) selected 3rd overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets
Mikhail Sergachev (Windsor Spitfires) selected 9th overall by the Montreal Canadiens
Matthew Tkachuk (London Knights) selected 6th overall by the Calgary Flames*
*player is a late 97-born
2015 NHL Draft (97-born):
Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds) selected 16th overall by the New York Islanders
Anthony Beauvillier (Shawinigan Cataractes) selected 28th overall by the New York Islanders
Brandon Carlo (Tri-City Americans) selected 37th overall by the Boston Bruins*
Thomas Chabot (Saint John Sea Dogs) selected 18th overall by the Ottawa Senators
Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs) selected 11th overall by the Florida Panthers (now with Arizona Coyotes)
Travis Konecny (Sarnia Sting) selected 24th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers
Mitch Marner (London Knights) selected 4th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs
Ivan Provorov (Brandon Wheat Kings) selected 7th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers
Blake Speers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) selected 67th overall by the New Jersey Devils
Dylan Strome (Erie Otters) selected 3rd overall by the Arizona Coyotes
Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting) selected 6th overall by the New Jersey Devils
*player is a late 96-born
2014 NHL Draft (96-born):
Christian Dvorak (London Knights) selected 58th overall by the Arizona Coyotes
Roland McKeown (Kingston Frontenacs) selected 50th overall by the Los Angeles Kings (now with Carolina Hurricanes)
Brayden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors) selected 79th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning