With the National Hockey League season now underway, you’ll find a solid contingent of Canadian Junior Hockey League alumni solidifying clubs there to begin the 2022-23 campaign.
Presently there are 65 players on NHL rosters, who played in 10, or more, CJHL contests in their respective junior careers.
Highlighting that group is former CJHL standout Cale Makar, of the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.
Makar, the 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as NHL Playoff MVP, starred for the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) from 2015-17 and went on to capture multiple CJHL accolades such as Most Valuable Player, Top Defenceman and Top Rookie.
Of the number of CJHL alums currently in the NHL, each of its nine-member leagues has at least one alumnus competing.
Also, among the 32 NHL clubs, 26 of them have a former CJHLer on their squad.
The Ottawa Senators and Vegas Golden Knights boast the highest number of CJHL alumni on the their teams with five apiece.
Listed below are the CJHL alumni currently on NHL team rosters:
(10, or more, games played
in the CJHL)PLAYER NAME POS. NHL TEAM CJHL TEAM(S) LEAGUE Drake Batherson F Ottawa Senators Valley Wildcats MHL Matt Benning D San Jose Sharks Spruce Grove Saints AJHL Nick Blankenburg D Columbus Blue Jackets Okotoks Oilers AJHL Mark Borowiecki D Nashville Predators Smiths Falls Bears CCHL Robert Bortuzzo D St. Louis Blues Fort William North Stars SIJHL Josh Brown D Arizona Coyotes Whitby Fury OJHL Connor Brown F Washington Capitals St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL Brent Burns D Carolina Huricanes Couchiching Terriers OJHL Andrew Cogliano F Colorado Avalanche St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL Justin Danforth F Columbus Blue Jackets Cobourg Cougars OJHL Calvin de Haan D Carolina Huricanes Kemptville 73’s CCHL Dylan DeMelo D Winnipeg Jets Mississauga Chargers OJHL Travis Dermott D Vancouver Canucks Newmarket Hurricanes OJHL Brian Elliott G Tampa Bay Lightning Ajax Axemen OJHL Jake Evans F Montreal Canadiens St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL Mario Ferraro D San Jose Sharks Toronto Patriots OJHL Sam Gagner F Winnipeg Jets Milton Icehawks OJHL Mark Giordano D Toronto Maple Leafs Brampton Capitals OJHL Claude Giroux F Ottawa Senators Cumberland Grads CCHL Brandon Hagel F Tampa Bay Lightning Whitecourt Wolverines AJHL Travis Hamonic D Ottawa Senators Winnipeg Saints MJHL Joel Hanley D Dallas Stars Newmarket Hurricanes OJHL Scott Harrington D San Jose Sharks Kingston Voyageurs OJHL Adin Hill G Vegas Golden Knights Calgary Canucks AJHL Nick Holden D Ottawa Senators Camrose Kodiaks AJHL Sherwood Park Crusaders AJHL Dylan Holloway F Edmonton Oilers Okotoks Oilers AJHL Ben Hutton D Vegas Golden Knights Kemptville 73’s CCHL Nepean Raiders CCHL Zach Hyman F Edmonton Oilers Hamilton Red Wings OJHL Ross Johnston F New York Islanders Summerside Western Capitals MHL Boris Katchouk F Chicago Blackhawks Soo Thunderbirds NOJHL Johnny Kovacevic D Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Jr. A Senators CCHL Hawkesbury Hawks CCHL Zack MacEwen F Philadelphia Flyers Amherst Ramblers MHL Cale Makar D Colorado Avalanche Brooks Bandits AJHL Mason Marchment F Dallas Stars Cobourg Cougars OJHL Mitchell Marner F Toronto Maple Leafs St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL Jordan Martinook F Carolina Huricanes Drayton Valley Thunder AJHL Jack McBain F Arizona Coyotes Toronto Jr. Canadiens OJHL Colin Miller D Dallas Stars Soo Thunderbirds NOJHL Ian Mitchell D Chicago Blackhawks Spruce Grove Saints AJHL Colton Parayko D St. Louis Blues Fort McMurray Oil Barons AJHL David Perron F Detroit Red Wings Panthères de St-Jérôme LHJAAAQ Jack Quinn F Buffalo Sabres Kanata Lasers CCHL Evan Rodriques F Colorado Avalanche Georgetown Raiders OJHL Jaden Schwartz F Seattle Kraken Notre Dame Hounds SJHL Devin Shore F Edmonton Oilers Whitby Fury OJHL Wayne Simmonds F Toronto Maple Leafs Brockville Braves CCHL Mike Smith G Edmonton Oilers Kingston Voyageurs OJHL Cole Smith F Nashville Predators Steinbach Pistons MJHL Brendan Smith D New Jersey Devils St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL Reilly Smith F Vegas Golden Knights St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL Carson Soucy D Seattle Kraken Spruce Grove Saints AJHL Riley Stillman D Vancouver Canucks Cobourg Cougars OJHL Cam Talbot G Ottawa Senators Hamilton Red Wings OJHL Chris Tanev D Calgary Flames Markham Waxers OJHL Chris Tanev D Calgary Flames Stouffville Spirit OJHL Durham Fury OJHL Brandon Tanev F Seattle Kraken Markham Waxers OJHL John Tavares F Toronto Maple Leafs Milton Icehawks OJHL Logan Thompson G Vegas Golden Knights Grande Prairie Storm AJHL Sean Walker D Los Angeles Kings Newmarket Hurricanes OJHL Jake Walman D Detroit Red Wings Toronto Jr. Canadiens OJHL MacKenzie Weegar D Calgary Flames Nepean Raiders CCHL Zach Whitecloud D Vegas Golden Knights Virden Oil Capitals MJHL Photo credit: NHL.com
