saultsports TORONTO – The number of Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) alumni currently competing in the ECHL sits at 156.
All 29 ECHL clubs boast multiple alumnus of the CJHL on their rosters, while each of the nine member leagues feature former players competing.
This includes Spencer Kersten (Oakville Blades/OJHL) who was named ECHL rookie of the month for January.
His overall numbers see him lead Orlando in scoring and share fifth place among all players in the league.
On the back end, Matt Register (Bonnyville Pontiacs/AJHL) is tied for top spot in offensive production among defencemen.
The Idaho Steelheads blueliner has registered 39 points in his 44 games played and leads all ECHL rearguards in assists with 34.
Meanwhile, between the pipes, Justen Close (Kindersley Klippers/SJHL) of the Jacksonville Icemen sits second among first-year netminders in goals-against average at 2.20 and is first in save percentage at .922.
His overall ECHL totals see him sixth-best in GAA and knotted for fifth with his save mark.
| PLAYER | NAME | POS. | ECHL TEAM | NOJHL TEAM(S) |
| Zach | Bannister | F | Indy Fuel | Kirkland Lake Gold Miners |
| Nico | Blachman | F | Iowa Heartlanders | Cochrane Crunch |
| Parker | Bowman | F | Rapid City Rush | Powassan Voodoos |
| Robert | Calisti | D | Reading Royals | Soo Thunderbirds |
| Stephen | Calisti | D | Toledo Walleye | French River Rapids |
| Evan | Cormier | G | Savannah Ghost Pirates | North Bay Trappers |
| Tyson | Gilmour | F | Maine Mariners | Powassan Voodoos |
| Spencer | Kennedy | F | Norfolk Admirals | Blind River Beavers |
| Connor | Lovie | D | Savannah Ghost Pirates | Cochrane Crunch |
| Troy | Murray | D | South Carolina Stingrays | Blind River Beavers |
| Elliot Lake Wildcats | ||||
| Drake | Pilon | F | Kalamazoo Wings | Soo Thunderbirds |
| Darian | Pilon | F | Toledo Walleye | Soo Thunderbirds |
| Dakota | Seaman | F | Wheeling Nailers | Blind River Beavers |
| Kirkland Lake Gold Miners | ||||
| Cochrane Crunch | ||||
| Darian | Skeoch | D | Adirondack Thunder | North Bay Trappers |
| Greg | Smith | F | Adirondack Thunder | Soo Thunderbirds |
| Joe | Vrbetic | G | Indy Fuel | Powassan Voodoos |
The following is the list of CJHL competing in the ECHL during the 2024-25 campaign:
2024-25 CJHL ALUMNI BY LEAGUE
NHL: 61
AHL: 71
ECHL: 156
NCAA D-I: 317
U SPORTS: 530
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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