TORONTO – The number of Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) alumni currently competing in the ECHL sits at 156.
All 29 ECHL clubs boast multiple alumnus of the CJHL on their rosters, while each of the nine member leagues feature former players competing.
This includes Spencer Kersten (Oakville Blades/OJHL) who was named ECHL rookie of the month for January.
Kersten is a member of the Orlando Solar Bears and presently paces all first-year skaters in the ECHL in both goals and points with 22 and 48 respectively, in 46 games.
His overall numbers see him lead Orlando in scoring and share fifth place among all players in the league.
On the back-end, Matt Register (Bonnyville Pontiacs/AJHL) is tied for top spot in offensive production among defencemen.
The Idaho Steelheads blueliner has registered 39 points in his 44 games played and leads all ECHL rearguards in assists with 34.
Meanwhile, between the pipes, Justen Close (Kindersley Klippers/SJHL) of the Jacksonville Icemen sits second among first-year netminders in goals-against average at 2.20 and is first in save percentage at .922.
His overall ECHL totals see him sixth-best in GAA and knotted for fifth with his save mark.
The following is the list of CJHL competing in the ECHL during the 2024-25 campaign:
2024-25 CJHL ALUMNI BY LEAGUE
NHL: 61
AHL: 71
ECHL: 156
NCAA D-I: 317
U SPORTS: 530
ABOUT THE CJHL: The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of nine Junior A leagues from Alberta to the Maritimes. … The CJHL currently represents 118 teams and well over 2,500 players. … There were also 2,500-plus CJHL alumni who furthered their hockey careers at the NHL, AHL, ECHL, SPHL, NCAA, U SPORTS and CHL levels across North America as well as in leagues across Europe during the 2023-24 campaign. … For the latest CJHL news and features, visit cjhlhockey.com and follow-on social media at @cjhlhockey via X & Instagram.
Photo credits:
Kersten: Spencer Smye / OJHL Images
Register: ECHL.com
Close: Doug Klassen