7 BCHL players selected at the 2022 NHL Draft

Photo credit: Garrett James Photography

The 2022 NHL Draft wrapped up today and seven BCHL players were selected by NHL teams.

Five players that suited up for BCHL teams in 2021-22 were drafted, as well as another two incoming players that are committed to play in the league next season.

Ben MacDonald (Noble & Greenough School/West Kelowna Warriors) – Round 3 (91st overall), Seattle Kraken

MacDonald has the distinction of being the first BCHL player off the board in this year’s draft.

The 18-year-old played at Noble & Greenough in Massachusetts the past three seasons. He led his prep school in scoring last year, putting up a team best 29 points in 22 games, to go along with 14 goals, also most on his team.

He is committed to play for West Kelowna next season. Beyond that, he has a scholarship to Harvard University.

Tyson Jugnauth (West Kelowna Warriors) – Round 4 (100th overall), Seattle Kraken

The Kraken went back to back with Warriors players as they took Jugnauth with their fourth-round selection. Jugnauth came into the draft as the highest-ranked player to play in the BCHL last year, so it was no surprise when he was the first of that group to hear his name called.

The winner of the BCHL’s Top Defenceman Award and a First-Team All-Star, Jugnauth enjoyed an excellent sophomore season in the league. The 18-year-old finished second in defencemen scoring with 50 points in 52 games on nine goals and 41 assists.

He will play at the University of Wisconsin in the fall.

Quote:

“I was just laying on the couch and we were all watching the draft. Someone else had just been drafted and they were doing a little bit of analysis on him and [my brother] Colton stands up and goes, ‘I think I just heard your name get called,’…A couple seconds later, my name popped up on the screen. It was a special moment for sure.”

Luke Devlin (St. Andrew’s College/West Kelowna Warriors) – Round 6 (182nd overall), Pittsburgh Penguins

Devlin was the second incoming BCHL player taken in the draft. He spent the past two years at St. Andrew’s where he was captain of the team his final season and led the team in most offensive categories, including goals (19), assists (28) and points (47) in his 44 games played.

He is the brother of Ian Devlin who is a defenceman for the Coquitlam Express and the son of Matt Devlin who is the play-by-play voice of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors on TSN and Sportsnet.

Devlin is committed to the Warriors in the fall and will eventually play his college hockey at Cornell University.

Eli Barnett (Victoria Grizzlies) – Round 7 (195th overall), San Jose Sharks

Barnett appeared on NHL Central Scouting’s early list in the fall, but was not on their midterm or final rankings. The Sharks must have still paid attention as they nabbed him with their final pick of the draft.

The Riverview, N.B. native played 53 of the Grizzlies 54 regular-season games in 2021-22, chipping in with three goals and 10 assists for 13 points.

He is committed to the University of Vermont.

Quote:

“When I first heard the news that I had been drafted by the San Jose Sharks, I was on the ninth hole about to tee off at the golf course and my phone started to blow up with notifications. The feeling of adrenaline and excitement that I felt when I realized that was happening will be something I will remember forever. My lifelong dream of getting drafted in the NHL had finally become a reality.”

Tyson Dyck (Cranbrook Bucks) – Round 7 (206th overall), Ottawa Senators

Dyck is the first player in Cranbrook Bucks history to be selected at the NHL Draft.

He tied for fourth in league scoring with 75 points in 54 games. His 34 goals and 41 assists were also top-five in the league. As a result, he was voted as a First-Team All-Star, a member of the All-Rookie Team and a finalist for the league’s Rookie of the Year Award.

He recently committed to the University of Massachusetts where he will play in the fall.

Quote:

“It was a surreal moment for my family and I to see my name get called. I am super excited to be a part of the Senators organization and am looking forward to getting started.”

Abram Wiebe (Chilliwack Chiefs) – Round 7 (209th overall), Vegas Golden Knights

Wiebe did not appear on any of NHL Central Scouting’s rankings during the season, but he caught the attention of the Knights who took him in the seventh round.

The Mission, B.C. product has played two seasons with the Chiefs and was named a Second-Team All-Star this past year after notching 31 points in 54 games to lead his team in points from the back end.

He is committed to play college hockey at the University of North Dakota.

Quote:

“It was absolutely surreal. I could not be more excited to join such an amazing organization. I would like to thank my friends, coaches and especially my family for helping me get to this point.”

Cade Littler (Wenatchee Wild) – Round 7 (219th overall), Calgary Flames

The Flames took Littler in the seventh round after his impressive rookie campaign in the BCHL where he was voted to the league’s All-Rookie Team and was a finalist for the Rookie of the Year Award. Playing for his hometown team in Wenatchee, the 17-year-old finished as the team’s leading goal scorer with 20 and second-leading points getter with 45 in 50 games.