saultsports Former Soo Thunderbird Andrew Gibson with Canada’s junior team
200-plus CJHL alumni competing in Canadian Hockey League
TORONTO – Another solid contingent of Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) alumni competing at higher levels this season involves those who have seen action in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).
Of those alumni who have played in five, or more, CJHL games, the numbers show a total of 209 of them have competed with CHL clubs during the course of the 2024-25 campaign.
This includes seeing each of the nine-member leagues, that comprise the CJHL, represented on this list.
They include former Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL) netminder Austin Elliott, who currently who currently shares the Ontario Hockey League lead in goals-against average at 2.26 with the London Knights. He also gone an very impressive 24-1-0 in his 25 starts while supplying a save mark of .917.
Then there is former Truro Bearcats (MHL) goaltender Alexis Cournoyer who has excelled for the Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL) with a record of 9-4-0 along with a stingy 1.71 average as well as an equally solid save percentage of .942.
On the back-end, Andrew Gibson, who was previously a 1st Team All-Star and Top Defenceman Award recipient with the Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) was a member of Canada’s most recent World Junior squad.
A second-round NHL draft pick, Gibson is property of the Nashville Predators and plays defence for the Oshawa Generals.
Up front, Calgary Canucks (AJHL) alum Gavin Garland sits among the rookie scoring leaders in the Western Hockey League at the moment.
A centre with the Tri-City Americans, Garland is averaging close to a point-per-game there, after helping the Canucks win an Alberta Junior Hockey League championship last season.
NOJHL Alumni who have played in the CHL in 2024-25
| PLAYER | NAME | POS. | CHL TEAM | NOJHL TEAM(S) |
| Noah | Aboflan | F | London Knights | Elliot Lake Vikings |
| Blind River Beavers | ||||
| Will | Bishop | D | Kingston Frontenacs | Espanola Paper Kings |
| Braydon | Bruce | D | Sudbury Wolves | Espanola Paper Kings |
| Charlie | Burns | G | Erie Otters | Blind River Beavers |
| Hudson | Chitaroni | F | Sudbury Wolves | Greater Sudbury Cubs |
| Brendan | Cooke | F | Flint Firebirds | Blind River Beavers |
| Tyson | Doucette | F | Sarnia Sting | Soo Thunderbirds |
| Cooper | Foster | F | Ottawa 67’s | Soo Thunderbirds |
| Andrew | Gibson | D | Oshawa Generals | Soo Thunderbirds |
| Michael | Levin | F | Niagara IceDogs | Powassan Voodoos |
| Marshall | McCharles | F | Sudbury Wolves | Greater Sudbury Cubs |
| Brodie | McConnell-Barker | D | Soo Greyhounds | Soo Thunderbirds |
| Sam | McCue | F | Flint Firebirds | Blind River Beavers |
| Landon | Miller | G | Soo Greyhounds | Soo Thunderbirds |
| Kaleb | Papineau | G | Saginaw Spirit | Hearst Lumberjacks |
| French River Rapids | ||||
| Brant | Romaniuk | F | Gatineau Olympiques | Timmins Rock |
| Reyth | Smith | F | North Bay Battalion | Powassan Voodoos |
| Noah | Tegelaar | G | Soo Greyhounds | Blind River Beavers |
| Conor | Walton | D | Windsor Spitfires | Espanola Paper Kings |
| Iain | Wintle | G | Gatineau Olympiques | Blind River Beavers |
The following link is the list of CJHL alumni who have played in the CHL in 2024-25:
CJHL ALUMNI: CHL
2024-25 CJHL ALUMNI BY LEAGUE
NHL: 61
AHL: 71
ECHL: 156
NCAA D-I: 317
U SPORTS: 530
CHL: 209
ABOUT THE CJHL: The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of nine Junior A leagues from Alberta to the Maritimes. … The CJHL currently represents 118 teams and well over 2,500 players. … There were also 2,500-plus CJHL alumni who furthered their hockey careers at the NHL, AHL, ECHL, SPHL, NCAA, U SPORTS and CHL levels across North America as well as in leagues across Europe during the 2023-24 campaign. … For the latest CJHL news and features, visit cjhlhockey.com and follow-on social media at @cjhlhockey via X & Instagram.
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