Jason La Rose
Canadian hockey was front and centre in Vancouver, with 69 prospects selected at the 2019 NHL Draft.
The contingent was the most of any country, 12 more than the United States. Kirby Dach was the first of 13 Canadians off the board in the first round, taken third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks. The Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., native played for Canada Black at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and helped Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team to gold at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton.
Some of the draftees are also alumni of Hockey Canada's national events. Among them, Harrison Blaisdell (134th overall to Winnipeg) became just the second player, after Tyson Jost, to play in all of the four men’s events (TELUS Cup, National Junior A Championship, World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, World Junior A Challenge).
Ten of 13 Hockey Canada members were represented, led by 19 selections from the Ontario Hockey Federation.
CANADIANS SELECTED AT THE 2018 NHL ENTRY DRAFT, BY MEMBER:
Ontario Hockey Federation (19) – Tyler Angle, Cole Brady, Eric Ciccolini, Thomas Harley, Mathew Hill, Hunter Jones, Ethan Keppen, Connor McMichael, Mason Millman, Blake Murray, Nicholas Porco, Mason Primeau, Jamieson Rees, Anthony Romano, Cole Schwindt, Ryan Suzuki, Philip Tomasino, Michael Vukojevic, Keean Washkurak
B.C. Hockey (12) – Layton Ahac, Carter Berger, Luka Burzan, Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens, Gianni Fairbrother, Nolan Foote, John Ludvig, Cole Moberg, Sasha Mutala, Massimo Rizzo, Henry Rybinski
Hockey Alberta (11) – Max Crozier, Kirby Dach, Carter Gylander, Dillon Hamaliuk, Peyton Krebs, Brett Leason, Quinn Olson, Matthew Robertson, Kieran Ruscheinski, Brayden Tracey, Matthew Wedman
Hockey Quebec (11) – Alex Beaucage, Félix Bibeau, Samuel Bolduc, Alexander Campbell, Maxence Guenette, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, Raphaël Lavoie, Nathan Légaré, Jérémy Michel, Jakob Pelletier, Samuel Poulin
Saskatchewan Hockey Association (7) – Adam Beckman, Harrison Blaisdell, Carson Focht, Kaedan Korczak, Reece Newkirk, Roddy Ross, Quinn Schmiemann
Hockey Eastern Ontario (3) – Graeme Clarke, Jacob LeGuerrier, Greg Meireles
Hockey Nova Scotia (3) – Colten Ellis, Ethan Phillips, Matthew Stienburg
Hockey Manitoba (1) – Trent Miner
Hockey Newfoundland & Labrador (1) – Alex Newhook
Hockey P.E.I. (1) – Jordan Spence
Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence was well represented, with 36 alumni hearing their names called. The Program of Excellence includes the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Hlinka Gretzky Cup, IIHF U18 World Championship and IIHF World Junior Championship.
Included in that list are 14 players who helped Canada to a gold medal on home ice at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and six who earned silver with Canada Red at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
PROGRAM OF EXCELLENCE ALUMNI SELECTED AT THE 2019 NHL DRAFT
2019 National Men’s Under-18 Team Dylan Cozens, Thomas Harley, Kaedan Korczak, Peyton Krebs, Nathan Légaré, Alex Newhook, Jakob Pelletier, Samuel Poulin, Jamieson Rees, Jordan Spence, Ryan Suzuki, Philip Tomasino, Brayden Tracey, Michael Vukojevic, Keean Washkurak
2019 National Junior Team Brett Leason
2018 National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team Bowen Byram, Graeme Clarke, Dylan Cozens, Kirby Dach, Maxence Guenette,Kaedan Korczak, Peyton Krebs, Sasha Mutala, Jakob Pelletier, Samuel Poulin, Jamieson Rees, Matthew Robertson, Ryan Suzuki, Michael Vukojevic
2018 National Men’s Under-18 Team Bowen Byram, Colten Ellis, Raphaël Lavoie, Matthew Robertson
2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Black: Alex Beaucage, Kirby Dach, Maxence Guenette, Thomas Harley, Kaedan Korczak, Blake Murray, Sasha Mutala, Alex Newhook, Jamieson Rees, Massimo Rizzo, Matthew Robertson, Philip Tomasino
Red: Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs, Ryan Suzuki, Brayden Tracey, Keean Washkurak
White: Harrison Blaisdell, Graeme Clarke, Ethan Keppen, Nathan Légaré, Connor McMichael, Jakob Pelletier, Nicholas Porco, Samuel Poulin,
2017 National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team Luke Burzan, Nolan Foote
2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Black: Luka Burzan, Nolan Foote, Hunter Jones
White: Carson Focht, Raphaël Lavoie
2016 National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team Greg Meireles
2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games Luka Burzan, Carson Focht
2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge White: Greg Meireles