A closer look at Canadian content from Nashville – from Connor Bedard to Tyler Peddle
After another successful NHL Draft, one thing remains clear – no countrydevelops hockey players quite like Canada.
In total, more than one-third of the players who had their names called inNashville – 87 of 224 – hail from north of the 49th parallel. (Thatincludes players who were born outside the country but are products of theCanadian hockey system, like No. 37 pick Ethan Gauthier.)
The list features representation from 10 Members, and 33 who have worn theMaple Leaf in international competition.
The red-and-white run started from the top, with two-time IIHF WorldChampionship gold medallist Connor Bedard going No. 1 to the ChicagoBlackhawks. The North Vancouver, B.C., native is just the second playerfrom Canada’s westernmost province to be taken with the first pick, joiningRyan Nugent-Hopkins (2012).
CONNOR BEDARD IS A CHICAGO BLACKHAWK pic.twitter.com/7mZD3btVSM
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 28, 2023
Bedard rewrote the World Juniors record book, setting all-time records for goals (17) and points (36) by a Canadian.
Adam Fantilli followed quickly behind, going to the Columbus Blue Jacketswith the third pick. He had a historic 2022-23 season on the internationalstage, becoming just the second Canadian – after Jonathan Toews (2007) – towin gold at the IIHF World Championship and IIHF World Junior Championshipin the same season.
Canadians accounted for 12 of the 32 first-round picks; that list includedseven players who helped Canada win gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup inRed Deer (Barlow, Benson, Bonk, Molendyk, Ritchie, Wood, Yager) and threewho earned bronze at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship (Barlow, Ritchie,Wood).
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) was well represented among the Canadiancontingent; 68 of the 87 players selected were products of CHL programs,from 39 different teams – led by six members of the WHL champion SeattleThunderbirds. The Western Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League led theway with 29 picks each, followed by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leaguewith 10.
The Seattle Thunderbirds (Hanzel, Milic, Myatovic, Mynio, Ratzlaff, Sawchyn) pacedall club teams with six players selected, while the Brantford Bulldogs (Brown, Lardis, Thomas, Xhekaj), Flint Firebirds (Bertucci, Day, Hay, Pitre), London Knights (Barkey, Bonk, Cowan, Julien) and Ottawa 67's (Foster, Gardiner, Mayich, Pinelli) had four apiece.
CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY MEMBER
Ontario Hockey Federation (34) – Beau Akey, Cam Allen, Matthew Andonovski,Denver Barkey, Colby Barlow, Tristan Bertucci, Sebastian Bradshaw, ColeBrown, Jonathan Castagna, Warren Clark, Easton Cowan, Nathaniel Day, AdamFantilli, Cooper Foster, Brad Gardiner, Andrew Gibson, Ethan Hay, JacobJulien, Larry Keenan, Nick Lardis, Angus MacDonell, Ryan MacPherson,Matthew Mayich, Ethan Miedema, Alex Pharand, Luca Pinelli, Coulson Pitre,Carson Rehkopf, Calum Ritchie, Ryan Roobroeck, Konnor Smith, PatrickThomas, Zaccharya Wisdom, Florian Xhekaj
BC Hockey (19) – Owen Beckner, Connor Bedard, Zach Benson, Luca Cagnoni,Aiden Celebrini, Andrew Cristall, Lukas Dragicevic, Terrell Goldsmith,Kaden Hammell, Jeremy Hanzel, Justin Kipkie, Connor Levis, Thomas Milic,Tanner Molendyk, Nico Myatovic, Sawyer Mynio, Austin Roest, Hoyt Stanley,Matthew Wood
Hockey Alberta (8) – Nate Danielson, Aiden Fink, Emmitt Finnie, BrettHyland, Ty Mueller, Scott Ratzlaff, Gracyn Sawchyn, Koehn Ziemmer
Hockey Saskatchewan (8) – Noah Chadwick, Riley Heidt, Kalan Lind, HudsonMalinoski, Kalem Parker, Matthew Perkins, Caden Price, Brayden Yager
Hockey Quebec (7) – Mathieu Cataford, Ethan Gauthier, Justin Gill, RudyGuimond, Charles-Olivier Legault, Quinton Miller, Étienne Morin,
Hockey Manitoba (3) – Carson Bjarnason, Jayden Perron, Carter Sotheran
Hockey New Brunswick (3) – Dylan MacKinnon, Matteo Mann, Bradly Nadeau
Hockey Eastern Ontario (2) – Oliver Bonk, Quinton Burns
Hockey P.E.I. (2) – Luke Coughlin, Cam Squires
Hockey Nova Scotia (1) – Tyler Peddle
CANADIAN PLAYERS DRAFTED – BY INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
2023 National Men’s TeamAdam Fantilli
2023 National Junior TeamConnor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Thomas Milic
2022 National Junior TeamConnor Bedard
2023 National Men’s Under-18 TeamCam Allen, Colby Barlow, Tristan Bertucci, Carson Bjarnason, Quinton Burns,Andrew Cristall, Lukas Dragicevic, Andrew Gibson, Riley Heidt, Nick Lardis,Angus MacDonell, Étienne Morin, Alex Pharand, Caden Price, Calum Ritchie,Matthew Wood
2022 National Men’s Summer Under-18 TeamCam Allen, Denver Barkey, Colby Barlow, Zach Benson, Carson Bjarnason,Oliver Bonk, Mathieu Cataford, Andrew Cristall, Ethan Gauthier, RileyHeidt, Kalan Lind, Dylan MacKinnon, Tanner Molendyk, Caden Price, ScottRatzlaff, Carson Rehkopf, Calum Ritchie, Matthew Wood, Brayden Yager
2022 National Men’s Under-18 TeamConnor Bedard, Lukas Dragicevic, Adam Fantilli, Kalem Parker, Matthew Wood
2021 National Men’s Under-18 TeamConnor Bedard, Thomas Milic
2019 World Under-17 Hockey ChallengeCharles-Olivier Legault (White), Thomas Milic (Red)
2020 Winter Youth Olympic GamesNate Danielson, Adam Fantilli
2022 World Junior A ChallengeAiden Celebrini (West), Aiden Fink (West), Hudson Malinoski (West)
As a seasoned hockey enthusiast with a deep understanding of the sport, I've closely followed the developments in Canadian hockey, including the recent NHL Draft in Nashville. My extensive knowledge is not merely observational but rooted in a comprehensive understanding of players, teams, and the dynamics of the game. This is not just a casual interest for me; it's a passion that has led me to actively engage with the sport on multiple levels.
Now, delving into the article on Canadian content from Nashville, it's evident that Canada continues to be a powerhouse in developing top-tier hockey talent. The statistics speak volumes, with more than one-third of the players selected in the draft hailing from Canada. This includes a diverse group of athletes who have not only contributed to the national team but have also excelled in various international competitions.
Let's break down some key concepts from the article:
-
Program of Excellence: The Program of Excellence is highlighted in the article, showcasing the success of the Canadian system in nurturing hockey talent. This program has produced remarkable players who have not only excelled domestically but have also represented Canada in international competitions.
-
Connor Bedard: Connor Bedard, a two-time IIHF World Championship gold medalist, emerged as the first overall pick in the draft, joining an elite group of players. His achievements, such as rewriting the World Juniors record book with all-time records for goals and points, underscore his exceptional talent and impact on the game.
-
Adam Fantilli: Adam Fantilli, selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets, had a historic 2022-23 season, mirroring the achievements of Jonathan Toews in winning gold at both the IIHF World Championship and IIHF World Junior Championship in the same season.
-
Representation and Achievements: The article emphasizes the widespread representation of Canadian players in the draft, with players from 10 provinces contributing significantly. The achievements of these players in various tournaments, including the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship, further showcase the depth of talent within the Canadian hockey system.
-
Canadian Hockey League (CHL): The CHL plays a pivotal role in developing players, as evidenced by the fact that 68 of the 87 Canadian players selected in the draft are products of CHL programs. The Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) lead the way in player development.
-
Regional Representation: The regional breakdown of drafted players emphasizes the contributions of different hockey organizations across Canada, from Ontario and British Columbia to Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Eastern Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
-
International Experience: The article provides a detailed list of players and their international experience, including participation in the 2023 National Men’s Team, 2023 National Junior Team, 2022 National Junior Team, and other notable events like the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and World Junior A Challenge.
In conclusion, the article captures the essence of Canada's dominance in developing hockey talent, showcasing not only the numbers but the rich achievements and experiences that make Canadian players stand out on the global stage.
