NHL teams well represented with CJHL alumni

Former Soo Thunderbirds defenceman Colin Miller is currently a member of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.

TORONTO – Just over two weeks into the 2023-24 National Hockey League (NHL) campaign and you’ll find many of the competing clubs are well represented with a plethora of Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) alumni.

Among those that played in a minimum of five games in the CJHL, as part of their respective junior careers, there are currently 71 alumnus on NHL rosters.

There are also 12 others, who either played or coached in the CJHL, who are presently serving as head coaches in the NHL.

Among the list of players are a trio of former CJHL Most Valuable Players, in standout defencemen Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche; Buffalo Sabres rookie goaltender Devon Levi and forward Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers.

Makar starred for the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) while Levi excelled with the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) and Hyman did likewise with the Hamilton Red Wings (OJHL).

The list of NHL bench bosses who spent time in the CJHL includes the head coaches of the past two Stanley Cup winners, Bruce Cassidy of the Vegas Golden Knights and Jared Bednar of the Avalanche.

You’ll find there is at least one alumnus from each of the nine member leagues that comprise the CJHL on the list.

The following are the CJHL alumni presently on NHL rosters, along with the clubs they were part of. Below that are the 12 NHL head coaches, who also have CJHL roots:

CJHL ALUMNI ON NHL ROSTERS        
PLAYER NAME POS. NHL TEAM CJHL TEAM(S) LEAGUE
Josh Anderson F Montreal Canadiens Burlington Cougars OJHL
Drake Batherson F Ottawa Senators Valley Wildcats MHL
Matt Benning D San Jose Sharks Spruce Grove Saints AJHL
Jacob Bernard-Docker D Ottawa Senators Okotoks Oilers AJHL
Robert Bortuzzo D St. Louis Blues Fort William North Stars SIJHL
Josh Brown D Arizona Coyotes Whitby Fury OJHL
Connor Brown F Edmonton Oilers St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL
Brent Burns D Carolina Hurricanes Couchiching Terriers OJHL
Michael Carcone F Arizona Coyotes Stouffville Spirit OJHL
Andrew Cogliano F Colorado Avalanche St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL
Nick Cousins F Florida Panthers Trenton Hercs OJHL
Justin Danforth F Columbus Blue Jackets Cobourg Cougars OJHL
Calvin de Haan D Tampa Bay Lightning Kemptville 73s CCHL
Dylan DeMelo D Winnipeg Jets Mississauga Chargers OJHL
Travis Dermott D Arizona Coyotes Newmarket Hurricanes OJHL
Phil Di Guiseppe F Vancouver Canucks Villanova Knights OJHL
Jake Evans F Montreal Canadiens St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL
Mario Ferraro D San Jose Sharks Toronto Patriots OJHL
Mark Friedman D Vancouver Canucks North York Rangers OJHL
Dennis Gilbert D Calgary Flames Buffalo Jr. Sabres OJHL
Mark Giordano D Toronto Maple Leafs Brampton Capitals OJHL
Claude Giroux F Ottawa Senators Cumberland Grads CCHL
Brandon Hagel F Tampa Bay Lightning Whitecourt Wolverines AJHL
Travis Hamonic D Ottawa Senators Winnipeg Saints MJHL
Joel Hanley D Dallas Stars Newmarket Hurricanes OJHL
Adin Hill G Vegas Golden Knights Calgary Canucks AJHL
Dylan Holloway F Edmonton Oilers Okotoks Oilers AJHL
Jack Hughes F New Jersey Devils Georgetown Raiders OJHL
Ben Hutton D Vegas Golden Knights Kemptville 73s CCHL
Nepean Raiders CCHL
Zach Hyman F Edmonton Oilers Hamilton Red Wings OJHL
Ross Johnston LW Anaheim Ducks Summerside Western Capitals MHL
Boris Katchouk F Chicago Blackhawks Soo Thunderbirds NOJHL
Johnathan Kovacevic D Montreal Canadiens Hawkesbury Hawks CCHL
Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Jr. Senators CCHL
Devon Levi G Buffalo Sabres Carleton Place Canadians CCHL
Ryan Lomberg F Florida Panthers Upper Canada Patriots OJHL
Cale Makar D Colorado Avalanche Brooks Bandits AJHL
Mason Marchment F Dallas Stars Cobourg Cougars OJHL
Mitchell Marner F Toronto Maple Leafs St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL
Jordan Martinook F Carolina Hurricanes Drayton Valley Thunder AJHL
Jack McBain F Arizona Coyotes Toronto Jr. Canadiens OJHL
Mason McTavish C Anaheim Ducks Pembroke Lumber Kings CCHL
Colin Miller D New Jersey Devils Soo Thunderbirds NOJHL
Ian Mitchell D Boston Bruins Spruce Grove Saints AJHL
Ryan O’Reilly F Nashville Predators Toronto Jr. Canadiens OJHL
Brayden Pachal D Vegas Golden Knights Estevan Bruins SJHL
Colton Parayko D St. Louis Blues Fort McMurray Oil Barons AJHL
Nick Paul F Tampa Bay Lightning Mississauga Chargers OJHL
Cole Perfetti F Winnipeg Jets Whitby Fury OJHL
David Perron F Detroit Red Wings Panthères de St-Jérôme LHJAAAQ
Jack Quinn F Buffalo Sabres Kanata Lasers CCHL
Darren Raddysh D Tampa Bay Lightning Georgetown Raiders OJHL
Evan Rodrigues F Florida Panthers Georgetown Raiders OJHL
Travis Sanheim D Philadelphia Flyers Winkler Flyers MJHL
Jaden Schwartz F Seattle Kraken Notre Dame Hounds SJHL
Devin Shore F Seattle Kraken Whitby Fury OJHL
Cole Smith F Nashville Predators Steinbach Pistons MJHL
Brendan Smith D New Jersey Devils St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL
Reilly Smith F Pittsburgh Penguins St. Michael’s Buzzers OJHL
Jordan Spence D Los Angeles Kings Summerside Western Capitals
Carson Soucy D Vancouver Canucks Spruce Grove Saints AJHL
Cam Talbot G Los Angeles Kings Hamilton Red Wings OJHL
Chris Tanev D Calgary Flames Markham Waxers OJHL
Stouffville Spirit OJHL
Durham Fury OJHL
Brandon Tanev F Seattle Kraken Markham Waxers OJHL
John Tavares F Toronto Maple Leafs Milton Icehawks OJHL
Logan Thompson G Vegas Golden Knights Grande Prairie Storm AJHL
Owen Tippett F Philadelphia Flyers Toronto Jr. Canadiens OJHL
Matt Tomkins G Tampa Bay Lightning Sherwood Park Crusaders AJHL
Sean Walker D Philadelphia Flyers Newmarket Hurricanes OJHL
Jake Walman D Detroit Red Wings Toronto Jr. Canadiens OJHL
MacKenzie Weegar D Calgary Flames Nepean Raiders CCHL
Zach Whitecloud D Vegas Golden Knights Virden Oil Capitals MJHL
CJHL ALUMNI – NHL HEAD COACHES
HEAD COACH NAME NHL TEAM CJHL TEAM(S) LEAGUE
Jared Bednar Colorado Avalanche Humboldt Broncos SJHL
Rod Brind’Amour Carolina Hurricanes Notre Dame Hounds SJHL
Andrew Brunette Nashville Predators Rayside-Balfour Canadians NOJHL
Bruce Cassidy Vegas Golden Knights Hawkesbury Hawks CCHL
Dave Hakstol Seattle Kraken Red Deer Rustlers AJHL
Sheldon Keefe Toronto Maple Leafs Pembroke Lumber Kings CCHL
Lane Lambert New York Islanders Swift Current Broncos SJHL
Todd McLellan Los Angeles Kings North Battleford North Stars SJHL
Jim Montgomery Boston Bruins Pembroke Lumber Kings CCHL
Lindy Ruff New Jersey Devils Taber Golden Suns AJHL
Martin St-Louis Montreal Canadiens Nationals de Joliette LHJAAAQ
Hawkesbury Hawks CCHL
Jay Woodcroft Edmonton Oilers Markham Waxers OJHL