59 OJHL ALUMNI OPEN 2015-16 NHL SEASON
(pictured - Calgary Flames captain & former Brampton Capital Mark Giordano highlights a list of 59 OJHL alumni on NHL opening day rosters - photo credit: Gerry Thomas/Calgary Flames)
Fifty-nine OJHL graduates have been named to opening day 23-man NHL rosters in preparation for the 2015-16 NHL season that is set to kick-off today.
The list of 59 alumni includes three captains - Brian Gionta (Niagara Scenic, now Buffalo Jr. Sabres) captains the Buffalo Sabres, Mark Giordano (Brampton Capitals) captains the Calgary Flames and John Tavares (Milton Icehawks) captains the New York Islanders.
It also includes four NHL newcomers, highlighted by San Jose Sharks defenceman Dylan Demelo who is a former member of the Mississauga Chargers and Ottawa Senators netminder Matt O'Connor who is a former member of the Upper Canada Patriots and Burlington Cougars. Other rookies to make the team are former affiliates Max Domi (St. Michael's Buzzers) with the Arizona Coyotes and Robby Fabbri (Toronto Jr. Canadiens) with the St. Louis Blues.
Twenty of the twenty-two OJHL member clubs have at least one alumnus listed on an NHL roster and leading the way is the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (Wexford Raiders), who have seven former players on NHL rosters to start the year. The Jr. Canadiens are followed closely by the Aurora Tigers, Milton Icehawks and St. Michael's Buzzers, who each have five alumni cracking NHL rosters.
From an NHL perspective, the Arizona Coytoes, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks have the most OJHL alumni on their rosters with four each. Highlighting those lists are former Kingston Voyageurs Mike Smith as Arizona's starting netminder, former Bowmanville Eagles sniper James Neal who leads the way in Nashville, former Milton Icehawk Matt Read who is a dependable two-way forward in Philadelphia and former Charger Dylan Demelo's debut in San Jose with former Couchiching Terrier Brent Burns.
Congratulations to all of our graduates and best of luck throughout the 2015-16 NHL season!
For the full list of NHL Opening Day rosters, please CLICK HERE.
Below is the full list of OJHL Alumni on NHL Opening Day rosters:
| Anaheim Ducks | ||
| Kevin Bieksa | Burlington (1997-00) | |
| Andrew Cogliano | St. Michael's (2003-05) | |
| Corey Perry | Peterborough (2000-01) | |
| Arizona Coyotes | ||
| Max Domi | St. Michael's (2010-11) | |
| Steve Downie | Aurora (2002-03) | |
| Tyler Gaudet** | Hamilton (2010-11) | |
| Brad Richardson | Wellington (2000-01) | |
| Mike Smith | Kingston (1998-00) | |
| Boston Bruins | ||
| Matt Beleskey | Collingwood (2003-04) | |
| Chris Kelly | Aurora (1996-97) | |
| Zac Rinaldo | Hamilton (2006-07) | |
| Buffalo Sabres | ||
| Brian Gionta © | Niagara (1995-97) | |
| Ryan O'Reilly | Toronto (2006-07) | |
| Calgary Flames | ||
| Mark Giordano © | Brampton (2001-02) | |
| Josh Jooris | Burlington (2008-10) | |
| Carolina Hurricanes | ||
| Jay McClement | Kingston (1997-98) | |
| Ryan Murphy | Villanova (2008-09) | |
| Chicago Blackhawks | ||
| Kyle Baun | Toronto (2008-10) | |
| Trevor Daley | Vaughan (1998-99) | |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | ||
| Josh Anderson** | Burlington (2010-11) | |
| David Clarkson | Port Hope/Aurora (2000-02) | |
| Cody Goloubef | Milton/Oakville (2005-07) | |
| Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Daniel Cleary | Kingston (1993-94) | |
| Kyle Quincey | Brampton/Mississauga (2000-02) | |
| Brendan Smith | Wexford/St. Michael's (2005-07) | |
| Edmonton Oilers | ||
| Luke Gazdic | North York/Wexford (2004-06) | |
| Cam Talbot | Hamilton (2004-07) | |
| Florida Panthers | ||
| Brandon Pirri | Streetsville/Georgetown (2007-09) | |
| Reilly Smith | St. Michael's (2007-09) | |
| Los Angeles Kings | ||
| Andy Andreoff | Pickering (2007-08) | |
| Tyler Toffoli | Toronto (2007-08) | |
| Nashville Predators | ||
| Cody Hodgson | Markham (2004-05) | |
| James Neal | Bowmanville (2003-04) | |
| Mike Fisher | Peterborough (1996-97) | |
| New Jersey Devils | ||
| Mike Cammalleri | Bramalea (1997-99) | |
| Lee Stempniak | Buffalo (1999-01) | |
| New York Islanders | ||
| Josh Bailey | Bowmanville (2004-05) | |
| John Tavares © | Milton (2004-05) | |
| New York Rangers | ||
| Daniel Girardi | Couchiching (2000-01) | |
| Dominic Moore | Aurora (1997-99) | |
| Rick Nash | Milton (1999-00) | |
| Ottawa Senators | ||
| Cody Ceci | Peterborough (2008-09) | |
| Matt O'Connor | Upper Canada/Burlington (2008-10) | |
| Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| Michael Del Zotto | Markham (2005-06) | |
| Sam Gagner | Milton (2004-05) | |
| Scott Laughton | St. Michael's (2009-10) | |
| Matt Read | Milton (2005-06) | |
| St. Louis Blues | ||
| Brian Elliott | Ajax (2002-03) | |
| Robby Fabbri | Toronto (2011-12) | |
| San Jose Sharks | ||
| Brent Burns | Couchiching (2001-02) | |
| Dylan Demelo | Mississauga (2009-10) | |
| Barclay Goodrow | Villanova (2008-09) | |
| Raffi Torres | Thornhill (1997-98) | |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | ||
| Ryan Callahan | Syracuse/Buffalo (2000-02) | |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| Daniel Winnik | Wexford (2001-03) | |
| Vancouver Canucks | ||
| Chris Tanev | Durham/Stouffville/Markham (2006-09) | |
| Washington Capitals | ||
| Justin Williams | Cobourg (1997-98) | |
| Winnipeg Jets | ||
| Michael Hutchinson | Orangeville (2006-07) | |
| Anthony Peluso | Aurora (2004-05) | |
**Listed on Injured Reserve
