The 2024 NHL Draft was once again a significant event for the British Columbia Hockey League as 10 players with ties to the league were selected this year, including four players who skated in the league during the 2023-24 season.
Four of the players appeared in the BCHL before moving to play Major Junior in the Canadian Hockey League, and the other two are recruits set to join a BCHL club in 2024-25.
Sawyer selected by the Habs
Brooks Bandits forward Logan Sawyer was the first B.C. Hockey League player off the board on day two of the National Hockey League draft when the Montréal Canadiens selected him in the 3rd round, 78th overall.
The 2006-born Sawyer, who’s committed to Providence College for September 2025, was 14th in scoring among the Alberta teams in the BCHL this past season, putting up nine goals and 19 points in 20 games. He tallied 26 goals and 59 points in 39 AJHL games with the Bandits before they made the jump to the BCHL. The Orangeville, Ontario product added seven goals and 15 points in a dozen playoff games as Brooks won the Alberta Cup.
Pridham goes to the Blackhawks
2005-born forward Jack Pridham of the West Kelowna Warriors was selected in the 3rd round, 92nd overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks during Saturday’s proceedings.
The native of Stouffville, Ontario was third among all 2005-born skaters in scoring during the 2023-24 BCHL season, tallying 24 goals and 49 points in 54 games. Stanley, who’s committed to Boston University for 2025, chipped in with eight goals and 11 points in 10 playoff games for the Warriors.
Ashton goes from Langley to Columbus
Langley Rivermen defender Luke Ashton went to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 6th round, 165th overall. He was the first B.C. player from the BCHL chosen in the draft.
Ashton, a 2005-born defender from North Vancouver, B.C., was second only to Penticton’s Francesco Dell’Elce in BCHL blueline scoring among 18-year-olds this past season with 18 goals and 36 points in 53 games. The Minnesota State University (Mankato) commit also posted one goal in four playoff games.
Lahey joins the Leafs’ prospect pool
Nanaimo Clippers blueliner Matthew Lahey was the last player chosen directly from the BCHL during this year’s NHL Draft when he went to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 7th round, 200th overall.
Lahey, a two-year BCHL veteran from Victoria, B.C., was tied for fourth among defenders in his age group this past season with two goals and 19 points in 54 games. He was scoreless in five playoff games for the Clippers. According to College Hockey News, the 2006-born Lahey is committed to Clarkson University for this September.
Vees recruit Merrill is Montreal-bound
Incoming Penticton Vees forward Ben Merrill was the first new BCHL recruit to be chosen in the NHL Draft. He went to the Canadiens in the 6th round, 166th overall.
Merrill is from Hingham, Massachusetts, and spent the 2023-24 season playing prep school hockey at St. Sebastian’s School, posting 18 goals and 37 points in 25 games. The 2005-born centre is committed to Harvard University and is set to start his NCAA career in September 2025.
Incoming Bandits blueliner Moline joins the Flyers
2005-born Brooks Bandits recruit Austin Moline went in the 7th round of the NHL Draft to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Las Vegas, Nevada product was the 205th overall selection in the draft and is committed to Northern Michigan University for September 2025.
Moline played in 71 regular season games for the Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep team in 2023-24, earning 11 goals and 41 points. He also added a goal and an assist in two Prep Hockey Conference playoff games.
Vees alum Gojsic picked by Nashville
2006-born forward Hiroki Gojsic (10 goals, 11 assists in 36 games for Penticton in 2022-23) was taken by the Nashville Predators in the 3rd round, 94th overall, at the NHL Draft.
Gojsic, a Langley, B.C. product, just wrapped up his first season with the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League. In addition to being named Rockets Rookie of the Year, Gojsic notched 21 goals and 50 points in 68 games as a first-year WHL player.
Seattle selects former Grizzlies AP Josephson
2006-born centre Ollie Josephson (one goal in five games with Victoria in 2021-22) went to the Seattle Kraken in the 4th round, 105th overall at the NHL Draft. The Victoria, B.C. product was an affiliate player for his hometown Grizzlies three years ago before joining the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL.
He finished this past season with 12 goals and 47 points in 68 games for the Rebels before adding two goals and five points in nine WHL playoff games. Josephson also won a gold medal with Canada at this year’s IIHF U18 World Championship after tallying three assists in seven games.
Boilard is off to the Big Apple
Up next was 2006-born forward Raoul Boilard (10 goals, 12 assists in 48 games with Salmon Arm and Alberni Valley in 2022-23), who was taken by the New York Rangers in the 4th round, 119th overall.
Boilard, who’s from Sherbrooke, Quebec, spent this past season with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was third among 2006-born players in scoring in the QMJHL with 22 goals and 62 points in 68 games. Boilard put up four goals and eight points in 17 playoff games.
Thorpe gets drafted by Les Canadiens
The last former player with BCHL ties selected in this year’s NHL Draft was forward Tyler Thorpe (two goals, one assist in 10 games with Langley in 2022-23) of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. Thorpe, who hails from Richmond, B.C., was selected by Montreal in the 5th round, 130th overall.
He wrapped up 2023-24 with 23 goals and 44 points in 51 games for the Giants. It was his second season in the WHL after joining Vancouver from the Rivermen early on in 2022-23.
