Canada's Junior A & B Leagues at the NHL Draft

Last year I ranked Canada's Jr B leagues, which created some controversy out East, because I relied on stats instead of the eye-test. However, with the NHL draft this weekend, it was interesting to see how Canada's Jr A and Jr B leagues did.

First let's look at the Junior A leagues and then Junior B.

Junior A

A total of eight players were drafted from the Jr A ranks, across four different leagues and six different teams.

What really stands out is the BCHL with THREE first round picks, nearly matching the WHL and their four first round picks.

Next stand-out for me is Penticton (BCHL) and Carleton Place (CCHL) each having two players drafted from their squad.

BCHL
Rnd	Pick	Overall	Team	Player	Pos	Country	Height	Weight	Amateur League	Amateur Team
1	10	10	COL	TYSON JOST	C	CAN	5' 11"	190	BCHL	PENTICTON
1	17	17	NSH	DANTE FABBRO	D	CAN	6' 0"	192	BCHL	PENTICTON
1	20	20	DET	DENNIS CHOLOWSKI	D	CAN	6' 1"	177	BCHL	CHILLIWACK

CCHL
Rnd	Pick	Overall	Team	Player	Pos	Country	Height	Weight	Amateur League	Amateur Team
4	8	99	BUF	BRETT MURRAY	LW	CAN	6' 4"	217	CCHL	CARLETON PLACE
5	7	128	DAL	COLTON POINT	G	CAN	6' 3"	219	CCHL	CARLETON PLACE

MJHL
Rnd	Pick	Overall	Team	Player	Pos	Country	Height	Weight	Amateur League	Amateur Team
7	7	188	ARI	DEAN STEWART	D	CAN	6' 1"	170	MJHL	PORTAGE

OJHL
Rnd	Pick	Overall	Team	Player	Pos	Country	Height	Weight	Amateur League	Amateur Team
3	23	84	EDM	MATTHEW CAIRNS	D	CAN	6' 2"	200	OJHL	GEORGETOWN
6	7	158	ARI	PATRICK KUDLA	D	CAN	6' 3"	175	OJHL	OAKVILLE

There are 10 Jr A leagues in Canada, and four had players drafted from them.

Junior B

The Junior Hockey News often says that the GOJHL is the top Jr B league in Canada (and I'd support that), and this would be further proof to that, as the GOJHL was the only Jr B league to have a player drafted.

GOJHL
Rnd	Pick	Overall	Team	Player	Pos	Country	Height	Weight	Amateur League	Amateur Team
6	23	174	NYR	TYLER WALL	G	CAN	6' 3"	202	GOJHL	LEAMINGTON

There are 24 Jr B leagues, and only one had a drafted player.

Last Observation
When looking at these nine drafted players, two are goalies, two are forwards, and five are defecemen.

Arizona Coyotes drafted two players from Canada's Jr A leagues

Conclusion
Canada's Jr Leagues did well at the NHL 2016 Draft, congratulations to these players and best of luck to them as they continue their hockey careers.