Twenty-Seven World Junior A Challenge Alumni selected at 2010 NHL Entry Draft

TWENTY-SEVEN WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE ALUMNI SELECTED AT 2010 NHL ENTRY DRAFT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Entering its fifth year, the profile of the World Junior A Challenge continues to grow, as evidenced by the record 27 alumni that were selected during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft last Friday and Saturday at the Staples Centre.

The list included 20 alumni of the 2009 WJAC in Summerside, P.E.I., six players from the 2008 tournament in Camrose, Alta., and one from the 2007 event in Trail, B.C. The United States led the way with eight players drafted, including seven members of its 2009 gold medal-winning team, while Sweden (7), Canada West (5), Russia (5) and Canada East (2) had players selected.

A record four World Junior A Challenge alumni were first-rounders in L.A., led by Alexander Burmistrov, who played for Russia at the 2008 WJAC and was selected eighth overall by Atlanta. Jaden Schwartz (Canada West, 2009 – St. Louis, 14th overall), Vladimir Tarasenko (Russia, 2008 – St. Louis, 16th overall) and Beau Bennett (United States, 2009 – Pittsburgh, 20th overall) also heard their names called Friday night.