Dylan Guenther Leads Alberta Draft Contingent

Hockey Edmonton alum Dylan Guenther led the charge for players from the capital region and across the province in the 2021 NHL Draft. Guenther, who grew up playing in the Northwest Zone before going on to KC Hockey, the Canadian Sports School Hockey League and the Edmonton Oil Kings, was selected in the first round - ninth overall - by the Arizona Coyotes.

Guenther was one of four players selected from Edmonton. Gannon Laroque was picked in the fourth round by San Jose, Minnesota selected Kyle Masters in the same round while Lucas Ciona went in the sixth round to the Calgary Flames.

Four other players from the capital region were selected in the second round. Beaumont’s Corson Ceulemans was chosen in the first round, 25^th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Fort Saskatchewan saw two players picked, Olen Zellweger to Anaheim and Colton Dach to Chicago, where he will join his brother, Kirby. The Ottawa Senators selected St. Albert’s Zack Ostapchuk with the 39^th overall pick.

There were another nine Albertans selected in the draft:

• Sebastian Cossa (G) selected by Detroit in the 1^st Round (Fort McMurray)
• Ryker Evans (D) selected by Seattle in the 2^nd Round (Calgary)
• Taige Harding (D) selected by Chicago in the 2^nd Round (Fort McMurray)
• Jayden Grubbe (F) selected by the Rangers in the 3^rd Round (Calgary)
• Talyn Boyko (G) selected by the Rangers in the 4^th Round (Drumheller)
• Sean Tschigerl (F) selected by Anaheim in the 5^th Round (Whitecourt)
• Gage Alexander (G) selected by Anaheim in the 5^th Round (Whitecourt)
• Dru Krebs (D) selected by Washington in the 6^th Round (Okotoks)
• Taylor Makar (F) selected in the 7^th Round by Colorado (Calgary)

16 of the 17 Albertans selected in the draft played in the Alberta Elite Hockey League.

We congratulate all the players on getting drafted and wish them the best as they pursue their dreams. We remind other players there are a lot of great NHL players who went undrafted!