The profile of the World Junior A Challenge continues to grow, as evidenced by the fact that 20 alumni of the event were selected at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, including three first rounders, tying the all-time high set at the 2007 draft.
Through the tournament’s first three years, 50 players have been drafted after playing in the World Junior A Challenge, and another 10 took part having already had their names called at the draft, making the tournament one of the must-sees on the international calendar.
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft included players from all three years of the World Junior A Challenge, including three members of the 2008 tournament all-star team (Cichy, Lee, Smith) and Jaroslav Janus, who earned a spot on the all-star team at the inaugural tournament in Yorkton, Sask. in 2006 before starring for Slovakia at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Ont.
WJAC Alumni selected at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft:
Dmitri Kulikov, Russia 2007, Florida Panthers (1st Round, 14th overall)
John Moore, USA 2008, Columbus Blue Jackets (1st Round, 21st overall)
Dylan Olsen, Canada West 2008, Chicago Blackhawks (1st Round, 28th overall)
Ethan Werek, Canada East 2007, New York Rangers (2nd Round, 47th overall)
Dmitri Orlov, Russia 2008, Washington Capitals (2nd Round, 55th overall)
Brandon Pirri, Canada East 2008, Chicago Blackhawks (2nd Round, 59th overall)
Josh Birkholz, USA 2008, Florida Panthers (3rd Round, 67th overall)
Reilly Smith, Canada East 2008, Dallas Stars (3rd Round, 69th overall)
Mike Lee, USA 2008, Phoenix Coyotes (3rd Round, 91st overall)
Craig Smith, USA 2007/08, Nashville Predators (4th Round, 98th overall)
Jeremy Price, Canada East 2008, Vancouver Canucks (4th Round, 113th overall)
Seth Helguson, USA 2007/08, N.J. Devils, (4th Round, 114th overall)
Anton Klementiev, Russia 2007, New York Islanders (5th Round, 122nd overall)
John Lee, USA 2007, Florida Panthers (5th Round, 131st overall)
Curtis McKenzie, Canada West 2008, Dallas Stars (6th Round, 159th overall)
Jaroslav Janus, Slovakia 2006, Tampa Bay (6th Round, 162nd overall)
David Pacan, Canada East 2008, Chicago Blackhawks (6th Round, 177th overall)
Mike Cichy, USA 2007/08, Montreal Canadiens (7th Round, 199th overall)
Ben Sexton, Canada East 2008, Boston Bruins (7th Round, 206th overall)
Dominik Bielke, Germany 2008, San Jose Sharks (7th Round, 207th overall)
To read the full World Junior A Challenge Guide and Record Book, click HERE.
