The Ottawa Senators Hockey Club has selected defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker in the first round of the 2018 NHLEntry Draft in Dallas, TX. As the 26th overall pick, Bernard-Docker is the highest CJHL drafted player – an achievement earned by Cale Makar of the Brooks Bandits in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
Heading into today’s draft, Bernard-Docker was the CJHL’s highest-rated draft prospect in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings, ranked 33rd overall (12th D-men) among North American Skaters.
The University of North Dakota commit was awarded as the Most Outstanding Defenceman in the AJHL for the 2017-18 season. This honour was followed up by the 2017-18 CJHL Defenceman of the Year Award.
In 49 games, he scored 20 times and went on to add 21 assists, for 41 points and finish tied for sixth in offensive production among all AJHL blueliners. His seven power play goals led all rearguards in his league as did his four shorthanded markers.
In a season filled with accolades, Jacob was selected to participate in the 2018 CJHL Prospects Game, was a finalist for the AJHL’s Most Dedicated Player Award, and won a gold medal as a member of Team Canada West at the 2017 World Junior A Challenge.
Cale Makar (Brooks Bandits) is the highest-ever drafted player from the Alberta Junior Hockey League, chosen fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft. 87 players have been drafted directly from the Alberta Junior Hockey League since 1980.
