67 OJHL ALUMNI OPEN 2014-15 NHL SEASON
(pictured - After finishing the 2013-14 season with the Buffalo Sabres, former Burlington Cougar Cory Conacher joins the New York Islanders, starting the season playing on the top line with former Milton Icehawk John Tavares - photo credit: Bill Wippert/NHL)
Sixty-seven OJHL graduates have been named to opening day 23-man NHL rosters in preparation for the 2013-14 NHL season that is set to kick-off today.
Included in the list are newcomers Michael Hutchinson and Justin Hodgman, as well as former OJHL minor midget affiliate players Darnell Nurse and Malcolm Subban.
After making his NHL debut last season with the Winnipeg Jets, former Orangeville Crushers netminder Michael Hutchinson cracked the club's 23-man opening day roster this year. Hutchinson spent part of the 2006-07 OJHL season playing for the Crushers under former Jets Legend Dale Hawerchuk.
One of the biggest training camp surprises in the NHL this season has to be the story of Justin Hodgman. Hodgman played the 2004-05 season with the Huntsville Otters, recording 20 points in 44 games as a 16-year old. He then made the jump to the OHL with the Erie Otters before bouncing around the minor leagues in the IHL, ECHL, AHL and Russia's KHL, and his persistence and hard-work has finally paid-off with a spot on the Arizona Coyotes opening day roster.
Twenty-one of the twenty-two OJHL member clubs have at least one alumnus listed on an NHL roster and leading the way is the Milton Icehawks, who have seven former players on NHL rosters. The Icehawks are followed closely by the Toronto Jr. Canadiens/Wexford Raiders with six grads and the Aurora Tigers, Orangeville Flyers (Villanova/Thornhill) and St. Michael's Buzzers, who each have five alumni cracking rosters.
From an NHL perspective, the New York Rangers are once again tops with five former OJHL players on their opening day roster, headlined by former MVP Cam Talbot, last year's Masterton Trophy winner Dominic Moore and superstar forward Rick Nash. The Rangers are followed closely by the Arizona Coyotes and Detroit Red Wings, who each have four former OJHLers on their roster.
Congratulations to all our graduates and best of luck throughout the 2014-15 season!
For the full list of NHL Opening Day Rosters, please CLICK Here. Below is the full list of OJHL Alumni that are on opening day rosters for the 2014-15 NHL Season.
| Anaheim Ducks | |
| Matt Beleskey | Collingwood (2003-04) |
| Andrew Cogliano | St. Michael's (2003-05) |
| Corey Perry | Peterborough (2000-01) |
| Arizona Coyotes | |
| B.J. Crombeen | Newmarket (2000-01) |
| Sam Gagner | Milton (2004-05) |
| Justin Hodgman | Huntsville (2004-05) |
| Mike Smith | Kingston (1998-00) |
| Boston Bruins | |
| Chris Kelly | Aurora (1996-97) |
| Reilly Smith | St. Michael's (2007-09) |
| Malcolm Subban | Toronto (2009-10) |
| Buffalo Sabres | |
| Brian Gionta © | Niagara (1995-97) |
| Cody Hodgson | Markham (2004-05) |
| Calgary Flames | |
| Mark Giordano © | Brampton (2001-02) |
| Carolina Hurricanes | |
| Jay Harrison | Oshawa (1997-98) |
| Jay McClement | Kingston (1997-98) |
| Ryan Murphy | Villanova (2008-09) |
| Chicago Blackhawks | |
| Daniel Carcillo | Milton (2001-02) |
| Brandon Mashinter** | Thornhill (2003-05) |
| Colorado Avalanche | |
| Ryan O'Reilly | Toronto (2006-07) |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | |
| Cody Goloubef | Milton/Oakville (2005-07) |
| Dallas Stars | |
| Rich Peverley** | Milton (1999-00) |
| Detroit Red Wings | |
| Daniel Cleary | Kingston (1993-94) |
| Kyle Quincey | Brampton/Mississauga (2000-02) |
| Brendan Smith | Wexford/St. Michael's (2005-07) |
| Stephen Weiss | North York (1998-99) |
| Edmonton Oilers | |
| Will Acton | Stouffville (2003-07) |
| Darnell Nurse | St. Michael's (2010-11) |
| Luke Gazdic | North York/Wexford (2004-06) |
| Florida Panthers | |
| Brandon Pirri | Streetsville/Georgetown (2007-09) |
| Blake Parlett** | Huntsville (2004-05) |
| Los Angeles Kings | |
| Andy Andreoff | Pickering (2007-08) |
| Tyler Toffoli | Toronto (2007-08) |
| Justin Williams | Cobourg (1997-98) |
| Minnesota Wild | |
| Matt Cooke | Wellington (1994-95) |
| Montreal Canadiens | |
| Mike Weaver | Thornhill/Bramalea (1994-96) |
| Nashville Predators | |
| James Neal | Bowmanville (2003-04) |
| Mike Fisher** | Peterborough (1996-97) |
| New Jersey Devils | |
| Mike Cammalleri | Bramalea (1997-99) |
| New York Islanders | |
| Josh Bailey | Bowmanville (2004-05) |
| Cory Conacher | Burlington (2006-07) |
| John Tavares | Milton (2004-05) |
| New York Rangers | |
| Daniel Girardi | Couchiching (2000-01) |
| Dominic Moore | Aurora (1997-99) |
| Rick Nash | Milton (1999-00) |
| Lee Stempniak | Buffalo (1999-01) |
| Cam Talbot | Hamilton (2004-07) |
| Ottawa Senators | |
| Cody Ceci | Peterborough (2008-09) |
| Philadelphia Flyers | |
| Michael Del Zotto | Markham (2005-06) |
| Matt Read | Milton (2005-06) |
| Zac Rinaldo | Hamilton (2006-07) |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | |
| Steve Downie | Aurora (2002-03) |
| St. Louis Blues | |
| Brian Elliott | Ajax (2002-03) |
| San Jose Sharks | |
| Brent Burns | Couchiching (2001-02) |
| Barclay Goodrow** | Villanova (2008-09) |
| Raffi Torres** | Thornhill (1997-98) |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | |
| Ryan Callahan | Syracuse/Buffalo (2000-02) |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | |
| David Clarkson | Port Hope/Aurora (2000-02) |
| Daniel Winnik | Wexford (2001-03) |
| Vancouver Canucks | |
| Kevin Bieksa | Burlington (1997-00) |
| Brad Richardson | Wellington (2000-01) |
| Chris Tanev | Durham/Stouffville/Markham (2006-09) |
| Washington Capitals | |
| John Erskine | Ajax/Quinte (2005-07) |
| Justin Peters | Vaughan (2002-03) |
| Edward Pasquale** | Wellington (2006-07) |
| Winnipeg Jets | |
| Matt Halischuk | St. Michael's (2004-05) |
| Michael Hutchinson | Orangeville (2006-07) |
| Anthony Peluso | Aurora (2004-05) |
