127 WHL Alumni Named to NHL Opening Night Rosters
October 2, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League is proud to announce that 127 WHL Alumni have been named to National Hockey League opening night rosters to start the 2019-20 season.
All 31 NHL teams feature at least one WHL graduate with the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, and Vegas Golden Knights boasting the largest number of WHL Alumni with eight players listed. The Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals follow next as they start the season with six WHL Alumni each on their roster.
Providing the most WHL Alumni to the NHL this season are the Kelowna Rockets, who boast 14. Three other WHL member Clubs are sending double-digit WHL Alumni to the NHL ranks this season, including the Brandon Wheat Kings (12), Portland Winterhawks (11), and Moose Jaw Warriors (10).
Of the 127 WHL Alumni on NHL opening day rosters, 17 are currently on the injured reserved lists for their respective NHL clubs.
Listed below are the WHL Alumni who are on NHL opening day rosters for the 2019-20 season. WHL Alumni are listed with the most recent WHL team they played for:
Anaheim Ducks (3):
Ryan Getzlaf, F - Calgary Hitmen
Sam Steel, F - Regina Pats*
Brendan Guhle, D - Prince George Cougars
Arizona Coyotes (4):
Michael Grabner, F - Spokane Chiefs
Marian Hossa, F - Portland Winterhawks*
Eric Comrie, G - Tri-City Americans
Darcy Kuemper, G - Red Deer Rebels
Boston Bruins (3):
Jake DeBrusk, F - Red Deer Rebels
Brandon Carlo, D - Tri-City Americans
Zdeno Chara, D - Prince George Cougars
Buffalo Sabres (2):
Curtis Lazar, F - Edmonton Oil Kings
Sam Reinhart, F - Kootenay ICE
Calgary Flames (6):
Mikael Backlund, F - Kelowna Rockets
Milan Lucic, F - Vancouver Giants
Derek Ryan, F - Spokane Chiefs
Travis Hamonic, D - Brandon Wheat Kings
Michael Stone, D - Calgary Hitmen
Juuso Valimaki, D - Tri-City Americans*
Carolina Hurricanes (5):
Jordan Martinook, F - Vancouver Giants
Nino Niederreiter, F - Portland Winterhawks
Joel Edmundson, D - Kamloops Blazers
Haydn Fleury, D - Red Deer Rebels
James Reimer, G - Red Deer Rebels
Chicago Blackhawks (5):
Kirby Dach, F - Saskatoon Blades*
John Quenneville, F - Brandon Wheat Kings*
Zack Smith, F - Swift Current Broncos
Duncan Keith, D - Kelowna Rockets
Brent Seabrook, D - Lethbridge Hurricanes
Colorado Avalanche (1):
Matt Calvert, F - Brandon Wheat Kings
Columbus Blue Jackets (4):
Oliver Bjorkstrand, F - Portland Winterhawks
Brandon Dubinsky, F - Portland Winterhawks*
Seth Jones, D - Portland Winterhawks
Ryan Murray, D - Everett Silvertips
Dallas Stars (6):
Jamie Benn, F - Kelowna Rockets
Blake Comeau, F - Kelowna Rockets
Justin Dowling, F - Swift Current Broncos
Martin Hanzal, F - Red Deer Rebels*
Roman Polak, D - Kootenay ICE
Anton Khudobin, G - Saskatoon Blades
Detroit Red Wings (4):
Darren Helm, F - Medicine Hat Tigers
Madison Bowey, D - Kelowna Rockets
Dennis Cholowski, D - Portland Winterhawks
Mike Green, D - Saskatoon Blades
Edmonton Oilers (8):
Kyle Brodziak, F - Moose Jaw Warriors*
Colby Cave, F - Swift Current Broncos
Leon Draisaitl, F - Kelowna Rockets
Jujhar Khaira, F - Everett Silvertips
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, F - Red Deer Rebels
Ethan Bear, D - Seattle Thunderbirds
Brandon Manning, D - Chilliwack Bruins
Kris Russell, D - Medicine Hat Tigers
Florida Panthers (5):
Brett Connolly, F - Prince George Cougars
Jayce Hawryluk, F - Brandon Wheat Kings
Dryden Hunt, F - Moose Jaw Warriors
Colton Sceviour, F - Lethbridge Hurricanes
Mark Pysyk, D - Edmonton Oil Kings
Los Angeles Kings (1):
Austin Wagner, F - Regina Pats
Minnesota Wild (5):
Victor Rask, F - Calgary Hitmen
Mason Shaw, F - Medicine Hat Tigers*
Matt Dumba, D - Portland Winterhawks
Jared Spurgeon, D - Spokane Chiefs
Devan Dubnyk, G - Kamloops Blazers
Montreal Canadiens (8):
Brendan Gallagher, F - Vancouver Giants
Nate Thompson, F - Seattle Thunderbirds
Jordan Weal, F - Regina Pats
Cale Fleury, D - Regina Pats
Noah Juulsen, D - Everett Silvertips*
Brett Kulak, D - Vancouver Giants
Shea Weber, D - Kelowna Rockets
Carey Price, G - Tri-City Americans
Nashville Predators (3):
Ryan Johansen, F - Portland Winterhawks
Colton Sissons, F - Kelowna Rockets
Dan Hamhuis, D - Prince George Cougars
New Jersey Devils (2):
Mirco Müller, D - Everett Silvertips
Damon Severson, D - Kelowna Rockets
New York Islanders (5):
Mathew Barzal, F - Seattle Thunderbirds
Jordan Eberle, F - Regina Pats
Andrew Ladd, F - Calgary Hitmen*
Johnny Boychuk, D - Moose Jaw Warriors
Ryan Pulock, D - Brandon Wheat Kings
New York Rangers (2):
Brett Howden, F - Moose Jaw Warriors
Libor Hajek, D - Regina Pats
Ottawa Senators (3):
Rudolfs Balcers, F - Kamloops Blazers*
Tyler Ennis, F - Medicine Hat Tigers
Clarke MacArthur, F - Medicine Hat Tigers
Philadelphia Flyers (6):
Nolan Patrick, F - Brandon Wheat Kings*
Tyler Pitlick, F - Medicine Hat Tigers*
Carsen Twarynski, F - Kelowna Rockets
Ivan Provorov, D - Brandon Wheat Kings
Travis Sanheim, D - Calgary Hitmen
Carter Hart, G - Everett Silvertips
Pittsburgh Penguins (2):
Justin Almeida, F - Moose Jaw Warriors*
Tristan Jarry, G - Edmonton Oil Kings
San Jose Sharks (3):
Evander Kane, F - Vancouver Giants
Brenden Dillon, D - Seattle Thunderbirds
Martin Jones, G - Calgary Hitmen
St. Louis Blues (2):
Brayden Schenn, F - Saskatoon Blades
Jay Bouwmeester, D - Medicine Hat Tigers
Tampa Bay Lightning (3):
Tyler Johnson, F - Spokane Chiefs
Brayden Point, F - Moose Jaw Warriors*
Braydon Coburn, D - Portland Winterhawks
Toronto Maple Leafs (3):
Tyson Barrie, D - Kelowna Rockets
Martin Marincin, D - Prince George Cougars
Morgan Rielly, D - Moose Jaw Warriors
Vancouver Canucks (5):
Micheal Ferland, F - Brandon Wheat Kings
Brandon Sutter, F - Red Deer Rebels
Jake Virtanen, F - Calgary Hitmen
Alexander Edler, D - Kelowna Rockets
Tyler Myers, D - Kelowna Rockets
Vegas Golden Knights (8):
Cody Eakin, F - Swift Current Broncos
Cody Glass, F - Portland Winterhawks
Ryan Reaves, F - Brandon Wheat Kings
Mark Stone, F - Brandon Wheat Kings
Deryk Engelland, D - Moose Jaw Warriors
Nick Holden, D - Chilliwack Bruins
Brayden McNabb, D - Kootenay ICE
Shea Theodore, D - Seattle Thunderbirds
Washington Capitals (6):
Brendan Leipsic, F - Portland Winterhawks
Chandler Stephenson, F - Regina Pats
Riley Sutter, F - Everett Silvertips*
Radko Gudas, D - Everett Silvertips
Tyler Lewington, D - Medicine Hat Tigers
Braden Holtby, G - Saskatoon Blades
Winnipeg Jets (4):
Adam Lowry, F - Swift Current Broncos
Dustin Byfuglien, D - Prince George Cougars**
Josh Morrissey, D - Kelowna Rockets
Laurent Brossoit, G - Edmonton Oil Kings
*Denotes player on the injured reserved list
** Denotes players not with team
Western Hockey League Stories from October 2, 2019
- 4 Americans Alumni Named to NHL Opening Night Rosters - Tri-City Americans
- Winterhawks Are Well Represented in the NHL - Portland Winterhawks
- Winterhawks Storm to Fourth Place in Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings - WHL
- Rebels Players Display True Character with Show of Support for Coach's Fiancee - Red Deer Rebels
- Six Saskatoon Blades Alumni Named to NHL Opening Night Rosters - Saskatoon Blades
- Warm Named to Vaughn CHL Team of the Week - Tri-City Americans
- 14 former Rockets listed on NHL Opening Night rosters - Kelowna Rockets
- 127 WHL Alumni Named to NHL Opening Night Rosters - WHL
- T-Birds Acquire Ryan Gottfried from Red Deer - Seattle Thunderbirds
- 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series Coaching Staffs Announced - WHL
- Americans Announce 2019-20 SWX Broadcast Schedule - Tri-City Americans
- Pats Announce Colten Teubert Bobblehead Night for November - Regina Pats
- Rebels And T-Birds Make Trade - Red Deer Rebels
- Silvertips Acquire F Tyson Phare from Lethbridge for a Sixth Round Selection in the 2023 WHL Draft - Everett Silvertips
- ICE Fans Encouraged to Wear Zombie Costumes for Zombie Night Presented by Heebie Jeebies on Saturday, October 5 - Winnipeg Ice
- Cougars, Pacific Western Transportation Announce Partnership - Prince George Cougars
- Preview: Broncos Host Oil Kings to IPlex - Swift Current Broncos
- Game Preview: Blades Visit Lethbridge in Second Game of Back-To-Back - Saskatoon Blades
- Blades Edged 2-1 by Rebels - Saskatoon Blades
- Rebels Hang on to Secure 'Character' Win over Blades - Red Deer Rebels
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