23 CSSHL Alumni Selected at 2026 NHL Entry Draft

23 Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) alumni have been selected at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft including a record 6 in the first round.

Gavin McKenna (2026 – Toronto Maple Leafs) joins Connor Bedard (2023 – Chicago Blackhawks) as the second CSSHL alumni selected first overall at an NHL Entry Draft. Daxon Rudolph (2026 – Buffalo Sabres) joins Bowen Byram (2019 – Colorado Avalanche) as the highest selected CSSHL defenseman at an NHL Entry Draft, with each going fourth overall. 

The six CSSHL alumni selected in the first round beat the previous CSSHL record of five set in 2021, 2023 and 2025. A record 25 CSSHL alumni were selected at both the 2023 and 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Two alumni were selected inside the Top 5, and four inside the Top 10, both CSSHL records. 

A total of 223 players were selected at this year’s draft with 10.3% of players selected having played in the CSSHL.

106 players developed in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) were selected at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, making up 47.5% of the players selected. The CHL’s 106 selections were its highest total in 16 years, dating back to 2010, and marked the first time since 2013 that the CHL reached the 100-pick mark at the NHL Draft.

39 of those 106 players were developed in the WHL, with 22 of the 23 CSSHL alumni making up 56.4% of WHLers. All 23 CSSHL alumni selected were developed in the CHL, making up 21.7% of all CHLers.

In total, 193 CSSHL alumni have now being selected at the NHL Draft since 2012. 157 of those 193 (81%) have been selected in the last seven years. 58 CSSHL alumni have gone on to play NHL regular season or playoff games. 

Number of Players Selected Per Draft

1. 2024 – 25
2. 2023 – 25
3. 2026 – 23
4. 2021 – 23
5. 2022 – 21
6. 2020 – 20
7. 2025 – 20
8. 2019 – 7
9. 2016 – 7
10. 2018 – 6
11. 2017 – 6
12. 2015 – 3
13. 2014 – 3
14. 2012 – 3
15. 2013 – 2

Most Players Selected from a CSSHL Program In League History

1. Yale Hockey Academy – 26
2. Pursuit of Excellence/RHA Kelowna– 26
   • 14 POE, 12 RHA Kelowna
3. Edge School – 23
4. Northern Alberta Xtreme – 22
5. Okanagan Hockey Academy – 21
6. BWC Academy – 18
7. Delta Hockey Academy – 17
8. RHA Winnipeg – 16
9. OHA Edmonton – 12
10. West Van Warriors – 8
    • 5 West Van, 3 NSW
11. St. George’s School – 7
12. Pacific Coast Hockey Academy – 5
13. South Alberta Hockey Academy – 3
14. Notre Dame Hounds – 2
15. Calgary International Hockey Academy – 1
16. Champions Hockey Academy – 1
17. CIH Academy – 1
18. Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy – 1
19. Mount Academy – 1
20. Ontario Hockey Academy – 1
21. Pilot Mound Hockey Academy – 1
22. Prairie Hockey Academy – 1

14 CSSHL Programs saw student-athletes selected at this years draft:

• Okanagan Hockey Academy – 5
• RHA Kelowna – 5
• Northern Alberta Xtreme – 4
• Edge School – 3
• Delta Hockey Academy – 2
• OHA Edmonton – 2
• Calgary International Hockey Academy – 1
• Champions Hockey Academy – 1
• Ontario Hockey Academy – 1
• Pacific Coast Hockey Academy – 1
• Pilot Mound Hockey Academy -1
• RHA Winnipeg- 1
• South Alberta Hockey Academy – 1
• Yale Hockey Academy – 1