Four Alberta Junior Hockey League players have been identified in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Okotoks Oilers defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker is the top CJHL prospect heading into the draft. Bernard-Docker was ranked 62nd among North American skaters in the mid-term rankings and has risen to 33rd. Twenty-two players from Canadian Junior Hockey League clubs earned spots on the list including 20 skaters and two goaltenders.
Jacob Bernard-Docker was the recipient of the W.G. (Bill) Scott Memorial Trophy as the 2017-2018 Outstanding Defenceman. He won a gold medal as a member of Team Canada West at the 2017 World Junior A Challenge in December and was selected to represent the AJHL in the CJHL Prospects Game in January 2018. The native of Canmore, AB was also a finalist for the 2017-18 Most Dedicated Player Award. Bernard-Docker has committed to the NCAA Division I University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
Defenceman Sean Comrie of the Spruce Grove Saints and forward Austin Wong of the Okotoks Oilers were also identified in the final rankings issued Monday. Comrie (Edmonton, AB) sits at 108th overall, while Wong (Cochrane, AB) has climbed from 214th in the mid-term rankings to 174th currently. A third member of the Okotoks Oilers was added to the list in forward Ben Sanderson of Calgary, AB.
All four NHL Draft prospects are competing in the 2018 Inter Pipeline AJHL Finals as members of the Spruce Grove Saints and Okotoks Oilers.
A total of 86 players have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft directly from the Alberta Junior Hockey League and 20 AJHL Alumni have went on to win the coveted Stanley Cup. Brooks Bandits defenceman Cale Makar made history as the highest drafted AJHL Player when the Colorado Avalanche selected him 4th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
The 2018 NHL Entry Draft will be held from June 22–23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.