69 OJHL ALUMNI OPEN 2016-17 NHL SEASON
(pictured - former Couchiching Terrier Brent Burns is one of 69 OJHL alumni on NHL rosters to open the 2016-17 season - photo credit: Getty Images/San Jose Sharks)
Sixty-nine OJHL graduates have been named to opening day 23-man NHL rosters in preparation for the 2016-17 NHL season that is set to kick-off tonight.
The list of 69 alumni includes four captains - Brian Gionta (Niagara Scenic, now Buffalo Jr. Sabres) captains the Buffalo Sabres, Mark Giordano (Brampton Capitals) captains the Calgary Flames, Mike Fisher (Peterborough Bees) captains the Nashville Predators and John Tavares (Milton Icehawks) captains the New York Islanders.
It also includes three NHL newcomers, highlighted by Toronto Maple Leafs rookie forward Mitch Marner, who is a former member and OJHL champion with the St. Michael's Buzzers. Also making their NHL debuts will be former Markham Waxer Joseph Cramarossa and former Stouffville Spirit Drake Caggiula.
Eighteen of the twenty-two OJHL member clubs have at least one alumnus listed on an NHL roster and leading the way is the St. Michael's Buzzers and Toronto Jr. Canadiens (Wexford Raiders), who have eight former players on NHL rosters to start the year. They are followed closely by the Milton Icehawks (Merchants) with five graduates cracking rosters this year.
From an NHL perspective, the Columbus Blue Jackets lead all teams with six former OJHL players on their rosters (including injured reserve). Following closely behind the Blue Jackets are the Carolina Hurricanes with five alumni and the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, each with three OJHL alumni making their squads.
Congratulations to all of our graduates and best of luck throughout the 2016-17 NHL season!
For the full list of NHL Opening Day rosters, please CLICK HERE.
Below is the full list of OJHL Alumni on NHL Opening Day rosters:
| Anaheim Ducks | ||
| Kevin Bieksa | Burlington (1997-00) | |
| Andrew Cogliano | St. Michael's (2003-05) | |
| Joseph Cramarossa | Markham (2008-09) | |
| Corey Perry | Peterborough (2000-01) | |
| Arizona Coyotes | ||
| Max Domi | St. Michael's (2010-11) | |
| Mike Smith | Kingston (1998-00) | |
| Boston Bruins | ||
| Matt Beleskey | Collingwood (2003-04) | |
| Dominic Moore | Aurora (1997-99) | |
| Buffalo Sabres | ||
| Brian Gionta © | Niagara (1995-97) | |
| Ryan O'Reilly | Toronto (2006-07) | |
| Calgary Flames | ||
| Brian Elliott | Ajax (2002-03) | |
| Mark Giordano © | Brampton (2001-02) | |
| Carolina Hurricanes | ||
| Phil Di Giuseppe | Villanova (2009-11) | |
| Tyler Ganly** | Toronto/Brampton (2010-12) | |
| Jay McClement | Kingston (1997-98) | |
| Ryan Murphy** | Villanova (2008-09) | |
| Lee Stempniak | Buffalo (1999-2001) | |
| Colorado Avalanche | ||
| Mat Clark** | Brampton (2006-08) | |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | ||
| Josh Anderson | Burlington (2010-11) | |
| David Clarkson** | Port Hope/Aurora (2000-02) | |
| Sam Gagner | Milton (2004-05) | |
| Cody Goloubef** | Milton/Oakville (2005-07) | |
| Jacob Graves** | Mississauga (2011-12) | |
| Scott Harrington | Kingston (2008-09) | |
| Dallas Stars | ||
| Devin Shore | Whitby (2011-12) | |
| Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Edward Pasquale | Wellington (2006-07 | |
| Dan Renouf** | Whitby (2009-10) | |
| Brendan Smith | Wexford/St. Michael's (2005-07) | |
| Ryan Sproul | Vaughan/Bramalea (2009-11) | |
| Edmonton Oilers | ||
| Drake Caggiula** | Stouffville (2010-12) | |
| Darnell Nurse | St. Michael's Buzzers (2010-11) | |
| Cam Talbot | Hamilton (2004-07) | |
| Florida Panthers | ||
| Reilly Smith | St. Michael's (2007-09) | |
| Los Angeles Kings | ||
| Andy Andreoff | Pickering (2007-08) | |
| Tyler Toffoli | Toronto (2007-08) | |
| Nashville Predators | ||
| James Neal | Bowmanville (2003-04) | |
| Mike Fisher © | Peterborough (1996-97) | |
| New Jersey Devils | ||
| Mike Cammalleri | Bramalea (1997-99) | |
| Luke Gazdic** | North York/Wexford (2004-06) | |
| Kyle Quincey** | Brampton/Mississauga (2000-02) | |
| New York Islanders | ||
| Josh Bailey | Bowmanville (2004-05) | |
| Alan Quine | Toronto (2008-09) | |
| John Tavares © | Milton (2004-05) | |
| New York Rangers | ||
| Daniel Girardi | Couchiching (2000-01) | |
| Josh Jooris | Burlington (2008-10) | |
| Rick Nash | Milton (1999-00) | |
| Brandon Pirri | Streetsville/Georgetown (2007-09) | |
| Ottawa Senators | ||
| Cody Ceci | Peterborough (2008-09) | |
| Chris Kelly | Aurora (1996-97) | |
| Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| Nick Cousins | Trenton (2008-09) | |
| Michael Del Zotto** | Markham (2005-06) | |
| Scott Laughton** | St. Michael's (2009-10) | |
| Matt Read | Milton (2005-06) | |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
| Trevor Daley | Vaughan (1998-99) | |
| Scott Wilson | Georgetown (2008-11) | |
| St. Louis Blues | ||
| Robby Fabbri | Toronto (2011-12) | |
| San Jose Sharks | ||
| Brent Burns | Couchiching (2001-02) | |
| Dylan Demelo | Mississauga (2009-10) | |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | ||
| Ryan Callahan | Syracuse/Buffalo (2000-02) | |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| Connor Brown | St. Michael's (2010-11) | |
| Zach Hyman | Hamilton (2008-11) | |
| Mitch Marner | St. Michael's (2012-13) | |
| Vancouver Canucks | ||
| Brendan Gaunce | Markham (2009-10) | |
| Chris Tanev | Durham/Stouffville/Markham (2006-09) | |
| Washington Capitals | ||
| Justin Williams | Cobourg (1997-98) | |
| Daniel Winnick | Wexford (2001-03) | |
| Winnipeg Jets | ||
| Michael Hutchinson | Orangeville (2006-07) | |
| Brandon Tanev | Markham (2010-11) | |
**Listed on Injured Reserve
