A total of five former Canadian Sport School Hockey League student athletes heard their name called on Day 2 of the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver on Saturday.
Gianni Fairbrother was selected by the Montreal Canadiens, Layton Ahac went to the Vegas Golden Knights, Max Crozier was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Harrison Blaisdell was selected by the Winnipeg Jets and Massimo Rizzo by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Along with Bowen Byram and Dylan Cozens, who were both selected in the first round on Friday, seven CSSHL alums in total were selected at the 2019 NHL Draft.
—
Fairbrother, 18, was selected in the third round, 77th overall, by the Canadiens. The North Vancouver, B.C. product attended the BWC Academy during the 2015-16 season, registering 18 points (5-13-18) in 35 games with their Elite 15 team, while also adding four assists in four games at the 2016 CSSHL Championships.
Fairbrother was named the 2016 CSSHL Elite 15 Division Top Defenceman. He has spent the past two seasons with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips.
—
Ahac, 18, was selected in the third round, 86th overall, by the Golden Knights. The North Vancouver, B.C. product attended the West Van Academy during the 2016-17 season, netting 21 points (8-13-21) in 28 games with their Elite 15 team, while also adding one assist in three games at the 2017 CSSHL Championships.
The six-foot-two defenceman has spent the past two seasons with the BCHL’s Prince George Spruce Kings and is committed to attend and play NCAA hockey at Ohio State University.
—
Crozier, 19, was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fourth round, 120th overall. He attended Edge School from 2015-2017, most recently suiting up for their Midget Prep team during the 2016-17 season, where he netted 25 points (5-20-25) in 24 games, while helping his team capture the 2017 CSSHL Midget Prep Division Championship.
The previous season, the six-foot-two defenceman had 33 points (7-26-33) in 30 games with the Edge School Elite 15 team, leading all blueliners in the division in scoring.
The Calgary, Alta. product spent this past season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL and is committed to attend and play NCAA hockey at Providence College.
—
Blaisdell, 18, was selected in the fifth round, 134th overall, by the Jets. The Regina, Sask. product attended the Yale Hockey Academy during the 2015-16 season, posting 54 points (20-34-54) in 25 games with their Bantam Prep team, along with adding four goals in five games with their Midget Prep team.
The 5-foot-11 forward also recorded six points (1-5-6) in four games during the post-season, helping Yale capture the 2016 CSSHL Bantam Prep Division Championship.
Blaisdell has spent the past two seasons with the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs and is committed to attend and play NCAA hockey at the University of North Dakota.
—
Rizzo, 18, was selected in the seventh round, 216th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes. The Burnaby, B.C. product attended the BWC Academy during the 2016-17 season, posting 53 points (12-41-53) in 28 games with their Midget Prep team, along with adding six points (3-3-6) in five games at the 2017 CSSHL Championships.
The 5-foot-10 forward was named the 2017 CSSHL Midget Prep Division MVP and 2017 CSSHL Midget Prep Division Top Freshman.
Rizzo has spent the past two seasons with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees and is committed to attend and play NCAA hockey at the University of North Dakota.