CALGARY, Alta. – With the National Hockey League season now underway, you’ll find that there are 132 alumni from the Canadian Junior Hockey League currently on NHL team or taxi squad rosters.
This includes 2020 Calder Trophy recipient Cale Makar who earned NHL Rookie of the Year laurels last season.
The former Brooks Bandits (AJHL) standout starred in the CJHL, being named its Most Valuable Player and Top Defenceman back during the 2016-17 campaign.
Makar, who won the 2019 Hobey Baker Award as top player in all of NCAA hockey, also collected CJHL best rookie honours back in 2016.
Each of the 10 leagues that comprise the CJHL have at least one of their alumnus on an NHL squad.
You’ll also find that all current 31 NHL clubs have CJHL alums on their rosters, led by the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues with nine apiece.
The following in the list of former CJHLers currently on NHL rosters:
| FIRST | LAST | POS. | NHL TEAM | CJHL TEAM(S) | LEAGUE |
| Josh | Anderson | RW | Montreal Canadiens | Burlington Cougars | OJHL |
| Josh | Bailey | RW | New York Islanders | Bowmanville Eagles | OJHL |
| Mathew | Barzal | C | New York Islanders | Coquitlam Express | BCHL |
| Drake | Batherson | RW | Ottawa Senators | Valley Wildcats | MHL |
| Jay | Beagle | C | Vancouver Canucks | Calgary Royals | AJHL |
| Jamie | Benn | LW | Dallas Stars | Victoria Grizzlies | BCHL |
| Victoria Salsa | BCHL | ||||
| Matt | Benning | D | Nashville Predators | Spruce Grove Saints | AJHL |
| Jordan | Binnington | G | St. Louis Blues | Dixie Bee Hives | OJHL |
| Mark | Borowiecki | D | Nashville Predators | Smiths Falls Bears | CCHL |
| Robert | Bortuzzo | D | St. Louis Blues | Fort William North Stars | SIJHL |
| Tyler | Bozak | C | St. Louis Blues | Victoria Grizzlies | BCHL |
| Victoria Salsa | BCHL | ||||
| Laurent | Brossoit | G | Winnipeg Jets | Cowichan Valley Capitals | BCHL |
| Connor | Brown | RW | Ottawa Senators | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
| Josh | Brown | D | Ottawa Senators | Whitby Fury | OJHL |
| Brent | Burns | D | San Jose Sharks | Couchiching Terriers | OJHL |
| Drake | Caggiula | C | Arizona Coyotes | Stouffville Spirit | OJHL |
| Matt | Calvert | LW | Colorado Avalanche | Winkler Flyers | MJHL |
| Cody | Ceci | D | Pittsburgh Penguins | Peterborough Stars | OJHL |
| Dennis | Cholowski | D | Detroit Red Wings | Chilliwack Chiefs | BCHL |
| Anthony | Cirelli | C | Tampa Bay Lightning | Mississauga Chargers | OJHL |
| Kale | Clague | D | Los Angeles Kings | Lloydminster Bobcats | AJHL |
| Andrew | Cogliano | C | Dallas Stars | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
| Kevin | Connauton | D | Florida Panthers | Spruce Grove Saints | AJHL |
| Fort Saskatchewan Traders | AJHL | ||||
| Kyle | Copobianco | D | Arizona Coyotes | Oakville Blades | OJHL |
| Nick | Cousins | C | Nashville Predators | Trenton Hercs | OJHL |
| Sidney | Crosby | C | Pittsburgh Penguins | Truro Bearcats | MHL |
| Michael | Dal Colle | LW | New York Islanders | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
| Calvin | de Haan | D | Chicago Blackhawks | Kemptville 73s | CCHL |
| Danny | Dekeyser | D | Detroit Red Wings | Trail Smoke Eaters | BCHL |
| Michael | Del Zotto | D | Columbus Blue Jackets | Markham Waxers | OJHL |
| Aaron | Dell | G | New Jersey Devils | Calgary Canucks | AJHL |
| Ty | Dellandrea | C | Dallas Stars | Whitby Fury | OJHL |
| Dylan | Demelo | D | Winnipeg Jets | Mississauga Chargers | OJHL |
| Travis | Dermott | D | Toronto Maple Leafs | Newmarket Hurricanes | OJHL |
| Phil | Di Giuseppe | LW | New York Rangers | Villanova Knights | OJHL |
| Max | Domi | C | Columbus Blue Jackets | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
| Brian | Elliott | G | Philadelphia Flyers | Ajax Axemen | OJHL |
| Jake | Evans | C | Montreal Canadiens | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
| Robby | Fabbri | F | St. Louis Blues | Toronto Jr. Canadiens | OJHL |
| Dante | Fabbro | D | Nashville Predators | Penticton Vees | BCHL |
| Langley Rivermen | BCHL | ||||
| Taylor | Fedun | D | Dallas Stars | Spruce Grove Saints | AJHL |
| Fort Saskatchewan Traders | AJHL | ||||
| Micheal | Ferland | F | Vancouver Canucks | Beausejour Blades | MJHL |
| Mario | Ferraro | D | San Jose Sharks | Toronto Patriots | OJHL |
| Mark | Friedman | D | Philadelphia Flyers | North York Rangers | OJHL |
| Sam | Gagner | C | Detroit Red Wings | Milton IceHawks | OJHL |
| Mark | Giordano | D | Calgary Flames | Brampton Capitals | OJHL |
| North York Rangers | OJHL | ||||
| Claude | Giroux | C | Philadelphia Flyers | Cumberland Grads | CCHL |
| Barclay | Goodrow | RW | Tampa Bay Lightning | Villanova Knights | OJHL |
| Derek | Grant | C | Anaheim Ducks | Langley Chiefs | BCHL |
| Ryan | Graves | D | Colorado Avalanche | Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners | MHL |
| Brandon | Hagel | LW | Chicago Blackhawks | Whitecourt Wolverines | AJHL |
| Travis | Hamonic | D | Vancouver Canucks | Winnipeg Saints | MJHL |
| Joel | Hanley | D | Dallas Stars | Newmarket Hurricanes | OJHL |
| Scott | Harrington | D | Columbus Blue Jackets | Kingston Voyageurs | OJHL |
| Danton | Heinon | LW | Anaheim Ducks | Surrey Eagles | BCHL |
| Merritt Centennials | BCHL | ||||
| Darren | Helm | F | Detroit Red Wings | Selkirk Stellers | MJHL |
| Adin | Hill | G | Arizona Coyotes | Calgary Canucks | AJHL |
| Taro | Hirose | F | Detroit Red Wings | Salmon Arm Silverbacks | BCHL |
| Nick | Holden | D | Vegas Golden Knights | Sherwood Park Crusaders | AJHL |
| Camrose Kodiaks | AJHL | ||||
| Braden | Holtby | G | Vancouver Canucks | Lloydminster Blazers | AJHL |
| Quinn | Hughes | D | Vancouver Canucks | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
| Brad | Hunt | D | Minnesota Wild | Burnaby Express | BCHL |
| Michael | Hutchinson | G | Toronto Maple Leafs | Orangeville Crushers | OJHL |
| Ben | Hutton | D | Anaheim Ducks | Kemptville 73s | CCHL |
| Nepean Raiders | CCHL | ||||
| Carter | Hutton | G | Buffalo Sabres | Fort William North Stars | SIJHL |
| K&A Golden Hawks | SIJHL | ||||
| Zach | Hyman | LW | Toronto Maple Leafs | Hamilton Red Wings | OJHL |
| Matt | Irwin | D | Buffalo Sabres | Nanaimo Clippers | BCHL |
| Ryan | Johansen | C | Nashville Predators | Penticton Vees | BCHL |
| Ross | Johnston | LW | New York Islanders | Summerside Western Capitals | MHL |
| Tyson | Jost | C | Colorado Avalanche | Penticton Vees | BCHL |
| Duncan | Keith | D | Chicago Blackhawks | Penticton Panthers | BCHL |
| Alex | Kerfoot | C | Toronto Maple Leafs | Coquitlam Express | BCHL |
| Jujhar | Khaira | LW | Edmonton Oilers | Prince George Spruce Kings | BCHL |
| Scott | Laughton | C | Philadelphia Flyers | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
| Ryan | Lomberg | LW | Florida Panthers | Toronto Patriots | OJHL |
| North York Rangers | OJHL | ||||
| Milan | Lucic | LW | Calgary Flames | Coquitlam Express | BCHL |
| Matt | Luff | RW | Los Angeles Kings | Oakville Blades | OJHL |
| Zack | MacEwen | C | Vancouver Canucks | Amherst Ramblers | MHL |
| Cale | Makar | D | Colorado Avalanche | Brooks Bandits | AJHL |
| Josh | Manson | D | Anaheim Ducks | Salmon Arm Silverbacks | BCHL |
| Flin Flon Bombers | SJHL | ||||
| Mitch | Marner | RW | Toronto Maple Leafs | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
| Jordan | Martinook | LW | Carolina Hurricanes | Drayton Valley Thunder | AJHL |
| Curtis | McElhinney | G | Tampa Bay Lightning | Notre Dame Hounds | SJHL |
| Brock | McGinn | LW | Carolina Hurricanes | Orangeville Crushers | OJHL |
| Colin | Miller | D | Buffalo Sabres | Soo Thunderbirds | NOJHL |
| Hunter | Miska | G | Colorado Avalanche | Penticton Vees | BCHL |
| Ian | Mitchell | D | Chicago Blackhawks | Spruce Grove Saints | AJHL |
| Jake | Muzzin | D | Toronto Maple Leafs | Soo Thunderbirds | NOJHL |
| Riley | Nash | C | Columbus Blue Jackets | Salmon Arm Silverbacks | BCHL |
| James | Neal | RW | Edmonton Oilers | Bowmanville Eagles | OJHL |
| Darnell | Nurse | D | Edmonton Oilers | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
| Ryan | O’Reilly | C | St. Louis Blues | Toronto Jr. Canadiens | OJHL |
| Colton | Parayko | D | St. Louis Blues | Fort McMurray Oil Barons | AJHL |
| Nick | Paul | LW | Ottawa Senators | Mississauga Chargers | OJHL |
| David | Perron | LW | St. Louis Blues | Panthères de St-Jérôme | LHJAAAQ |
| Brandon | Pirri | C | Chicago Blackhawks | Georgetown Raiders | OJHL |
| Streetsville Derbys | OJHL | ||||
| Brayden | Point | C | Tampa Bay Lightning | Canmore Eagles | AJHL |
| Carey | Price | G | Montreal Canadiens | Quesnel Millionaires | BCHL |
| Mark | Pysyk | D | Dallas Stars | Sherwood Park Crusaders | AJHL |
| Michael | Rasmussen | C | Detroit Red Wings | Penticton Vees | BCHL |
| Mike | Reilly | D | Ottawa Senators | Penticton Vees | BCHL |
| Brad | Richardson | RW | Nashville Predators | Wellington Dukes | OJHL |
| Nick | Ritchie | LW | Boston Bruins | Georgetown Raiders | OJHL |
| Nick | Robertson | LW | Toronto Maple Leafs | North York Rangers | OJHL |
| Evan | Rodriques | C | Pittsburgh Penguins | Georgetown Raiders | OJHL |
| Carter | Rowney | C | Anaheim Ducks | Grande Prairie Storm | AJHL |
| Justin | Schultz | D | Washington Capitals | Westside Warriors | BCHL |
| Jaden | Schwartz | LW | St. Louis Blues | Notre Dame Hounds | SJHL |
| Devin | Shore | C | Edmonton Oilers | Whitby Fury | OJHL |
| Wayne | Simmonds | RW | Toronto Maple Leafs | Brockville Braves | CCHL |
| Colton | Sissons | C | Nashville Predators | Westside Warriors | BCHL |
| Reilly | Smith | RW | Vegas Golden Knights | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
| Brendan | Smith | D | New York Rangers | St. Michael’s Buzzers | OJHL |
| Wexford Raiders | OJHL | ||||
| Mike | Smith | G | Edmonton Oilers | Kingston Voyageurs | OJHL |
| Carson | Soucy | D | Minnesota Wild | Spruce Grove Saints | AJHL |
| Troy | Stecher | D | Detroit Red Wings | Penticton Vees | BCHL |
| Sam | Steel | C | Anaheim Ducks | Sherwood Park Crusaders | AJHL |
| Malcolm | Subban | G | Chicago Blackhawks | Toronto Jr. Canadiens | OJHL |
| Cam | Talbot | G | Minnesota Wild | Hamilton Red Wings | OJHL |
| Brandon | Tanev | RW | Pittsburgh Penguins | Surrey Eagles | BCHL |
| Markham Waxers | OJHL | ||||
| Chris | Tanev | D | Calgary Flames | Markham Waxers | OJHL |
| Stouffville Spirit | OJHL | ||||
| Durham Fury | OJHL | ||||
| John | Tavares | C | Toronto Maple Leafs | Milton IceHawks | OJHL |
| Owen | Tippett | RW | Florida Panthers | Toronto Jr. Canadiens | OJHL |
| Devon | Toews | D | Colorado Avalanche | Surrey Eagles | BCHL |
| Tyler | Toffoli | RW | Montreal Canadiens | Toronto Jr. Canadiens | OJHL |
| Kyle | Turris | C | Edmonton Oilers | Burnaby Express | BCHL |
| Sean | Walker | D | Los Angeles Kings | Newmarket Hurricanes | OJHL |
| Jake | Walman | D | St. Louis Blues | Toronto Jr. Canadiens | OJHL |
| MacKenzie | Weagar | D | Florida Panthers | Nepean Raiders | CCHL |
| Zach | Whitecloud | D | Vegas Golden Knights | Virden Oil Capitals | MJHL |
| Portage Terriers | MJHL | ||||
| Travis | Zajac | C | New Jersey Devils | Salmon Arm Silverbacks | BCHL |
Photo credits: Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images & icelevel.com
Image graphic design courtesy Michael Nerino