20 CHL Players Selected in First Round of 2014 NHL Draft
Friday June 27, 2014
Philadelphia, PA – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 20 CHL players were selected in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft held Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The 20 CHL players selected marks the third highest league total in over 30 years matching 2008, 1998, and 1987, behind only the 2011 NHL Draft where 21 CHL players were chosen and last season when a record 22 CHL players were picked in the draft’s opening round.
The first round of the 2014 NHL Draft featured seven straight CHL players selected and nine of the top-10 picks matching 2010 and 1990 led by Aaron Ekblad of the Barrie Colts who became the eighth straight CHL player to be selected first overall. Ekblad, selected by the Florida Panthers, became just the 13th defenceman in NHL history to be chosen first overall and the first since 2006.
The Ontario Hockey League featured 10 players selected including four players in the top-10 led by Ekblad, Sam Bennett of the Kingston Frontenacs chosen fourth overall by the Calgary Flames, Michael Dal Colle of the Oshawa Generals chosen fifth overall by the New York Islanders, and Nick Ritchie of the Peterborough Petes chosen tenth overall by the Anaheim Ducks. 10 players marks the OHL’s second highest total in modern draft history following 11 players chosen in 2012, 2011, and 2008.
The Western Hockey League featured nine players selected including four players in the top-10 led by Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice chosen second overall by the Buffalo Sabres, Leon Draisaitl of the Prince Albert Raiders chosen third overall by the Edmonton Oilers, Jake Virtanen of the Calgary Hitmen chosen sixth overall by the Vancouver Canucks, and Haydn Fleury of the Red Deer Rebels chosen seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes. Reinhart was selected the highest among his brothers Griffin and Max chosen fifth overall in 2012 and 64th overall in 2010 respectively with Sam and Griffin becoming just the 16th brother combination in NHL history to be chosen in the first round. The nine WHL players selected equals 2008 and 2007 as their most successful first round in modern draft history.
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League featured Nikolaj Ehlers of the Halifax Mooseheads chosen ninth overall by the Winnipeg Jets.
Three CHL clubs had multiple players selected in the first round including a pair of Hitmen with Virtanen and teammate Travis Sanheim chosen 17th overall by the host Philadelphia Flyers. Two Rebels were also selected including Fleury and teammate Conner Bleackley chosen 23rd overall by the Colorado Avalanche, while a pair of Sarnia Sting were also selected including Anthony DeAngelo chosen 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nikolay Goldobin selected 27th overall by the San Jose Sharks.
CHL Players Selected in the First Round of the 2014 NHL Draft:
(Click on a player to watch post-draft interview)
1. Aaron Ekblad (Barrie Colts) – Florida Panthers
2. Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice) – Buffalo Sabres
3. Leon Draisaitl (Prince Albert Raiders) – Edmonton Oilers
4. Sam Bennett (Kingston Frontenacs) – Calgary Flames
5. Michael Dal Colle (Oshawa Generals) – New York Islanders
6. Jake Virtanen (Calgary Hitmen) – Vancouver Canucks
7. Haydn Fleury (Red Deer Rebels) – Carolina Hurricanes
9. Nikolaj Ehlers (Halifax Mooseheads) – Winnipeg Jets
10. Nick Ritchie (Peterborough Petes) – Anaheim Ducks
12. Brendan Perlini (Niagara IceDogs) – Arizona Coyotes
14. Julius Honka (Swift Current Broncos) – Dallas Stars
17. Travis Sanheim (Calgary Hitmen) – Philadelphia Flyers
19. Anthony DeAngelo (Sarnia Sting) – Tampa Bay Lightning
21. Robby Fabbri (Guelph Storm) – St. Louis Blues
23. Conner Bleackley (Red Deer Rebels) – Colorado Avalanche
24. Jared McCann (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) – Vancouver Canucks
26. Nikita Scherbak (Saskatoon Blades) – Montreal Canadiens
27. Nikolay Goldobin (Sarnia Sting) – San Jose Sharks
28. Joshua Ho-Sang (Windsor Spitfires) – New York Islanders
30. John Quenneville (Brandon Wheat Kings) – New Jersey Devils