Thirty SMAAAHL alumni are in the NHL… A stunning six NHL head coaches played in the SMAAAHL… 10 U18AAA teams have alumni in the NHL…
BY Jonathan Huntington
REGINA – There are 32 NHL teams – and 20 of them have at least one SMAAAHL alumni on their current roster.
While that is impressive, the more eye-popping statistic is this: six NHL head coaches spent time in the SK U18AAA league: Rod Brind’Amour (Carolina – Notre Dame), Jared Bednar (Colorado – Tisdale), Glen Gulutzan (Dallas – Saskatoon Blazers), Todd McClellan (Detroit – Saskatoon Blazers), Kris Knoblach (Edmonton – Battlefords), Lane Lambert (Seattle – Swift Current).
The Seattle Kraken actually have six SMAAAHL alumni with Lambert on the bench, Chandler Stephenson, Jaden Schwartz, Cale Fleury, Ryker Evans and Berkly Catton.
“The SMAAAHL is arguably the best U18 league in North America,” said Colby Armstrong, a former Saskatoon Blazer who played for four NHL teams before becoming one of the top TV analysts in the NHL.
“The SMAAAHL is great at preparing you for the next level – junior hockey and beyond. It has been a consistent factory for producing NHL players and coaches. With a schedule and quality competition that will challenge, it’s also a great league to grow not only as a player but a person.”
Added SMAAAHL president Lloyd Friesen: “This is indicative of the number of great mentors we have in our league that are conscious of developing successful character and leaders.”
Below is a list of the NHL teams with a current SMAAAHL connection – either on the coaching staff or on the ice.
Boston Bruins
Tanner Jeannot – Yorkton
Calgary Flames
Brayden Pachal – Moose Jaw
Connor Zary – Saskatoon Contacts
Carolina Hurricanes
Rod Brind’Amour – head coach – Notre Dame
Colorado Avalanche
Jared Bednar – head coach – Tisdale
Columbus Blue Jackets
Cole Sillinger – Regina
Dallas Stars
Glen Gulutzan – head coach – Saskatoon Blazers
Detroit
Todd McLellan – head coach – Saskatoon Blazers
Edmonton Oilers
Kris Knoblach – head coach – Battlefords
Las Vegas Golden Knights
Kaedan Korczak – Yorkton
Brayden McNabb – Notre Dame
Los Angeles Kings
Darcy Kuemper – Saskatoon Contacts/Saskatoon Blazers
New York Rangers
Braden Schneider – Prince Albert
Philadelphia Flyers
Sean Couturier – Notre Dame
Pittsburgh Penguins
Todd Nelson – assistant coach – Prince Albert
Seattle Kraken
Berkly Catton – Saskatoon Contacts
Jaden Schwartz – Notre Dame
Chandler Stephenson – Saskatoon Contacts/Saskatoon Blazers
Ryker Evans – Notre Dame
Cale Fleury – Notre Dame
Lane Lambert – head coach – Swift Current
St. Louis Blues
Brayden Schenn – Saskatoon Contacts
Toronto Maple Leafs
Morgan Rielly – Notre Dame
Utah Mammoth
Liam O’Brien – Notre Dame
Corey Schwab – goaltending coach – Battlefords
Vancouver Canucks
Tyler Myers – Notre Dame
Brett McLean – assistant coach – Notre Dame
Washington Capitals
Patrick Wellar – assistant coach – Saskatoon Blazers
Winnipeg Jets
Haydn Fleury – Notre Dame
Luke Schenn – Saskatoon Contacts
Photos: Brayden McNabb (left), Berkly Catton (top right), Connor Zary (bottom right).
