News

CALGARY, Alta. – As NCAA Division I programs in the U.S. prepare for the start of their seasons early next month, a majority of those schools boast Canadian Junior Hockey League alumni on their team rosters.

As of Tuesday there are currently 542 alumnus of the CJHL that will be skating or tending goal in the NCAA D-I ranks in 2018-19.

Among the notables are 2016-17 CJHL most valuable player and top defenceman Cale Makar (Brooks Bandits, AJHL) who is entering his sophomore year at the University of Massachusetts in Hockey East.

Makar went on to be selected fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Draft.

There is also 2017-18 CJHL MVP and top forward Chris Van Os-Shaw (Spruce Grove Saints, AJHL) as he is set to commence his freshman season at Minnesota State of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

Two other former CJHL standouts in blueliners Jacob Bernard-Docker (Okotoks Oilers, AJHL) and Jonathan Tychonick (Penticton Vees, BCHL) are beginning their freshman years at the University of North Dakota (NCHC) while forward Jack McBain (Toronto Jr. Canadiens, OJHL) is set to start at Boston College (Hockey East).

Bernard-Docker, the CJHL’s top defenceman last season previously earned the John Grisdale Top Prospects Award for being to the highest selected CJHL player chosen in the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas after being tabbed by the Ottawa Senators in the first round, 26th overall.

Tychonick was also taken by Ottawa, going in the second round, 48th overall, in the 2018 Draft.

As for McBain, his efforts saw him selected in third round, 63rd overall, by the Dallas Stars in the most recent NHL Draft as he gears up for his NCAA debut with the B.C. Eagles.

In the coming weeks, the CJHL will announce the names of the CJHL alumni on the rosters of teams that compete in the NCAA D-III ranks.

CLICK HERE to view 2018-19 NCAA D-I rosters