18 CHL Players Selected in the First Round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft
Published on June 23, 2012 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL) News Release
Pittsburgh, PA - The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 18 CHL players were selected in the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA, on Friday night.
The 18 CHL players marks the fourth highest league total over the last 15 years following the record 21 CHL players chosen in 2011, and 20 CHL players picked in both the 2008 and 1998 drafts.
The Ontario Hockey League led the way with 11 players selected which matches 2011 and 2008 as their most successful first rounds in modern draft history with Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting chosen first overall. The Western Hockey League had six players selected including five of the first eight picks, which they last accomplished back in 1995, led this season by defenceman Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips chosen second overall. Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts was the only current member of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey chosen in the first round at number 12, however Stefan Matteau who is a future member of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada committed for the 2012-13 season was selected at number 29.
Yakupov became the sixth straight CHL player to be selected first overall when he was chosen by the Edmonton Oilers following Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels and Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires who were also picked by the Oilers each of the last two seasons, John Tavares of the London Knights chosen first overall by the New York Islanders in 2009, the Sting's Steven Stamkos chosen first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008, and the Knights' Patrick Kane chosen first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks back in 2007.
CHL Players Selected in the First Round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft:
1. Nail Yakupov (Sarnia Sting) - Edmonton Oilers
2. Ryan Murray (Everett Silvertips) - Columbus Blue Jackets
3. Alex Galchenyuk (Sarnia Sting) - Montreal Canadiens
4. Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton Oil Kings) - New York Islanders
5. Morgan Rielly (Moose Jaw Warriors) - Toronto Maple Leafs
7. Mathew Dumba (Red Deer Rebels) - Minnesota Wild
8. Derrick Pouliot (Portland Winterhawks) - Pittsburgh Penguins
10. Slater Koekkoek (Peterborough Petes) - Tampa Bay Lightning
12. Mikhail Grigorenko (Quebec Remparts) - Buffalo Sabres
13. Radek Faksa (Kitchener Rangers) - Dallas Stars
15. Cody Ceci (Ottawa 67's) - Ottawa Senators
16. Thomas Wilson (Plymouth Whalers) - Washington Capitals
20. Scott Laughton (Oshawa Generals) - Philadelphia Flyers
22. Olli Maatta (London Knights) - Pittsburgh Penguins
24. Malcolm Subban (Belleville Bulls) - Boston Bruins
26. Brendan Gaunce (Belleville Bulls) - Vancouver Canucks
27. Henrik Samuelsson (Edmonton Oil Kings) - Phoenix Coyotes
30. Tanner Pearson (Barrie Colts) - Los Angeles Kings
Ontario Hockey League Stories from June 23, 2012
- 99 CHL Players Selected in 2012 NHL Entry Draft - OHL
- Ebert Selected 211th Overall - Windsor Spitfires
- Brown Selected in Sixth Round by Toronto - Erie Otters
- Clarke Taken 132nd Overall by Colorado - Windsor Spitfires
- Thomson Chosen by New Jersey Devils - Kitchener Rangers
- Daniel Altshuller Drafted 69th Overall - Oshawa Generals
- Penguins Select Matia Marcantuoni - Kitchener Rangers
- Johnson and Vail Chosen in NHL Draft - Windsor Spitfires
- Pelech Selected in the Third Round by New York Islanders - Erie Otters
- Sieloff Chosen 42nd Overall - Windsor Spitfires
- 18 CHL Players Selected in the First Round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft - OHL
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