2023

By NHL Public Relations

May 8, 2023

SECAUCUS, N.J. (May 8, 2023) — The Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks own the first and second overall drafting positions, respectively, for the First Round of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft as a result of the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery, conducted this evening at NHL Network’s Secaucus, N.J., studio.

Bridgestone Arena, home of the Nashville Predators, over two days. Round 1 will be held on Wednesday, June 28 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN, SN, TVAS), followed by Rounds 2-7 on Thursday, June 29 (11 a.m. ET, NHLN, SN, TVAS).

Connor Bedard, a center from the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats, placed No. 1 among North American Draft prospects when the NHL Central Scouting Bureau released its final rankings presented by BioSteel on April 18. Bedard produced numbers the WHL has not seen in nearly a quarter of a century. His 71 goals were the most by a WHL player in 24 years (Pavel Brendl: 73 in 1998-99) and his 143 points the highest single-season total by a WHL skater in 27 years.

University of Michigan center Adam Fantilli is the No. 2 North American Skater, followed by No. 3-ranked William Smith, a center from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 Team; No. 4 Matthew Wood, a right wing for the University of Connecticut; and No. 5 Ryan Leonard, a right wing from the USA Hockey NTDP Under-18 Team.

Leo Carlsson, a center for Orebro of the Swedish Hockey League, ranks No. 1 among international skaters, while Carson Bjarnason of Brandon in the WHL and Alexander Hellnemo of the Skelleftea (Sweden) junior team rank No. 1 among goaltenders on the North America and International lists, respectively.

For more information:

2023 NHL Draft Lottery media information guide
NHL Draft Lottery history at records.nhl.com
NHL Draft history at records.nhl.com
2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft prospect profiles

Source: media.nhl.com

WORLD JUNIORS RECAP: CANADA 11, SLOVAKIA 1

McTavish tied a Canadian record with four goals to help Canada earn its second win in as many nights

GAME STATISTICS | LIVE GAME BLOG

EDMONTON, Alta. – Fourteen players recorded at least one point as Canada’s National Junior Team picked up its second win in as many nights at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, defeating Slovakia 11-1 on Thursday.

•Mason McTavish (Carp, Ont./Hamilton, OHL) led the offence with four goals and two assists, becoming the seventh Canadian to scored four goals in a single World Juniors game.

• Joshua Roy (Saint-Georges, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) chipped in with a goal and three assists.
• Brennan Othmann (Pickering, Ont./Flint, OHL) registered a goal and a pair of assists.
• Connor Bedard (North Vancouver, B.C./Regina, WHL), Will Cuylle (Toronto, Ont./Windsor, OHL), Olen Zellweger (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta./Everett, WHL) and Logan Stankoven (Kamloops, B.C./Kamloops, WHL) contributed a goal and an assist each.
• Zack Ostapchuk (St. Albert, Alta./Vancouver, WHL) rounded out the scoring.
• Lukas Cormier (Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, N.B./Charlottetown, QMJHL) and William Dufour (Québec, Que./Saint John, QMJHL) recorded two assists apiece.
• Dylan Garand (Victoria, B.C./Kamloops, WHL) made 22 saves.
Canada outshot Slovakia 44-24.

Next Game:
Canada vs. Czechia – Saturday, Aug. 13 (4 p.m. MT/6 p.m. ET)

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, are carrying extensive game coverage and analysis throughout the World Juniors, broadcasting all 28 tournament games. TSN Radio will also provide comprehensive coverage.

Quotes:
“I do not pay attention to records, but any time you score four goals in a game you are likely chasing some record. [Mason] McTavish is an NHL player, and I do not think anyone is surprised by the way he has been playing. What impresses me is his attitude, and the fact that he has no ego. He probably could have opted to not come to this tournament after the season he had, but he has been fully engaged and obviously his performance tonight was outstanding.”

– Head coach Dave Cameron (Kinkora, P.E.I./Ottawa, OHL) on McTavish’s performance

“[Tying a Canadian record] was a special moment for me, but I have to give credit to my teammates. It felt like they were trying to get me the puck all night, especially [Connor] Bedard because he had a really good game. He was the one that told me about the record because he had four goals in December, so I know him and [Brennan Othmann] really wanted me to get that fifth [goal]. It was a great moment for me, but hopefully we can take this momentum into Saturday’s game against the Czechs.”

– McTavish on tying the Canadian record for most goals in a World Juniors game

“We showed how deep this team is. We have depth throughout the lineup, and it does not matter who is in the game or who is out, everyone is able to contribute in their own way. It does not matter who gets the goals because everyone pitches in, whether that is from scoring, blocking shots or making a nice play. Everyone stood out tonight and we all played a great game.”

– Othmann on the team’s depth

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Source: Hockey Canada