TORONTO – While a plethora of Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) alumni continue to compete at higher levels of the game, others are making their mark as coaches.
Along with the 2,227 CJHL alums who played during the 2023-24 season, another 75 former CJHLers served as head coaches in either the National Hockey League, American Hockey League, ECHL, Southern Professional Hockey League, USPORTS or the Canadian Hockey League.
Of those who either played, or coached, in the CJHL, this includes 10 alumnus who guided NHL clubs behind the bench during the recently completed campaign.
In fact, two of the past three Stanley Cup winners were coached by CJHL alumni, in Bruce Cassidy, Vegas Golden Knights (Hawkesbury Hawks/CCHL) in 2023 and Jared Bednar, Colorado Avalanche (Humboldt Broncos/SJHL) in 2022.
You also had Brad Ralph, Florida Everblades (Kanata Valley Lasers/CCHL) who his side to a third consecutive ECHL Kelly Cup crown, while Jean-Guy Trudel, Peoria Rivermen (Rouyn-Noranda Capitales/NOJHL) guided his squad to a SPHL President’s Cup championship.
Then there was Gardiner MacDougall, New Brunswick Reds (OCN Blizzard/MJHL & Lebret Eagles/SJHL) running the table in an unbeaten season to garner USPORTS men’s hockey supremacy.
He also guided Canada to World under-18 gold, with a perfect 7-0 record.
Meanwhile, Chris Lazary, Saginaw Spirit (Port Hope Buzzards/OJHL) led his team to a Memorial Cup title.
Click the following link to view the list of CJHL alumni who served as head coaches in the NHL; AHL; ECHL; USPORTS & CHL in 2023-24:
CJHL ALUMNI 2023-24 SEASON
NHL: 71
AHL: 78
ECHL: 161
SPHL: 95
NCAA D-I: 401
USPORTS: 547
NCAA D-III: 700
CHL: 174
TOTAL: 2,227
HEAD COACHES: 75 (NHL; AHL; ECHL; SPHL; USPORTS; CHL)
Photo credits: NHL.com; ECHL.com; USPORTS; CHL Images