The Canuck Way
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Vancouver Canucks: Developing Talent in NCAA Hockey

By Rick Warman

ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 05: Michigan Wolverines defenseman Quinn Hughes (43), left, in action while Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bo Brauer (29) pursues during the Frozen Four semifinal game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 5, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Notre Dame defeated Michigan 4-3. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 05: Michigan Wolverines defenseman Quinn Hughes (43), left, in action while Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bo Brauer (29) pursues during the Frozen Four semifinal game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 5, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Notre Dame defeated Michigan 4-3. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Vancouver Canucks are well-equipped when it comes to players from the college ranks. Many current and future stars have chosen this route to develop their skills.

The Vancouver Canucks have had success with their players that they’ve drafted out of the NCAA, to say the least.

Current roster draftees

The Canucks have several drafted players that have made the jump from NCAA hockey to the National Hockey League. Thatcher Demko, Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes and Adam Gaudette all played a various amount of seasons at their respective colleges, before signing with the Canucks.

The Canucks drafted Demko in the second round of the 2014 NHL draft, with the 36th overall selection. He showed steady improvement in each of his three seasons at Boston College. Demko increased his games played, and his games won totals while lowering his goals-against average, in each of those seasons. In his final season at Boston College, he won the Mike Richter Award as the NCAA’s top collegiate goalie.

The Canucks selected Boeser with the 23rd overall selection of the 2015 NHL draft. He would spend the next two seasons at the University of North Dakota where he was named NCAA (NCHC) Rookie of the Year. The Fighting Hawks went on to win the National title that season and Boeser had a four-points in a 5-1 victory over Quinnipiac in the final game. Boeser would sign with the Canucks following his sophomore season.

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After being selected by the Canucks in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL draft, Gaudette spent three seasons at Northeastern University. Drafted primarily a defensive center, he developed the offensive side of his game while playing at the collegiate level. In his junior season, Gaudette led the nation in scoring and won the prestigious Hobey Baker Award, given to the NCAA top collegiate player. He signed with the Canucks immediately following his junior year.

The dynamic defenceman Hughes was selected #7 overall in the 2018 NHL draft following his freshman year at the Univerity of Michigan. Hughes returned to play one more season with the Wolverines, continuing to improve his overall game. His sophomore year would see him named as a Hobey Baker finalist as well as winning a silver medal at the U20 World Junior Championships. He signed with the Canucks late last season and saw five games of NHL action.

Free-agent signings

In addition to the drafted players mentioned above the Canucks have signed several NCAA free-agents. Troy Stecher, Brogan Rafferty, Josh Teves and Jake Kielly were all signed following compelling college careers.

Stecher, the Richmond, BC native, honed his skills at the University of North Dakota where he was a teammate of Boeser during their championship season. Three seasons of steady development in the NCAA ranks were significant in aiding him to land a contract with the Canucks.

Quinnipiac University was the collegiate destination for Rafferty. He would spend three seasons with the club strengthening his overall game. Subsequently, the 24-year-old defenceman earned a contract with the Canucks last spring and will likely start the season with the Utica Comets.

Teves, the smooth-skating rearguard, would spend four years at Princeton University before ultimately inking a professional contract with the Canucks. He would earn various all-star team accolades during his time in the NCAA. Teves, in all likelihood, will be Utica bound to start the 2019-2020 season.

Jim Benning addressed the goaltending depth of the organization by signing Kielly, following an outstanding career at Clarkson University. In the three seasons there he would have an assortment of honours bestowed upon him. Kielly will be competing for a spot with the Comets this season.

Acquired from other organizations

Jay Beagle, Tyler Motte, Tim Schaller, Alex Biega and Zane McIntyre are five other players who are currently under contract with the Vancouver Canucks organization. All saw time in the NCAA before being acquired by the Canucks via trade or NHL free agency.

Beagle spent two years at the University of Alaska-Anchorage before signing with the Washington Capitals.

Motte attended the University of Michigan for three seasons after being drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks. He was a Hobey Baker award finalist in 2016.

Schaller would join the Buffalo Sabres organization after his four-year collegiate career. Schaller was a member of Providence College during his time in the NCAA.

After being drafted by the Sabres, Biega would spend four years at Harvard University. During his time there he received several all-star honours.

The Mike Richter award for top collegiate goaltender was an achievement earned by McIntyre while a member of UND. He would spend three years with the Fighting Hawks before turning pro.

Current prospects attending NCAA schools

In addition to the players presently under contract, the Vancouver Canucks have five other draft picks who will suit up for teams in the NCAA this coming season. Thus, bringing the total to 18 players that will have attended various collegiate schools.

Will Lockwood is about to embark on his senior year at the University of Michigan. The hard-working winger has been named the captain of the team for his final year of college eligibility. He will be turning pro after the 2019-2020 campaign.

The freshman season for defenceman Jack Rathbone would find him on the top pairing and second power play unit. He may see deployment on the number one power play at Harvard this season with Adam Fox having signed with the New York Rangers.

Northeastern University has been a tremendous developing grounds for the Canucks in recent years. Tyler Madden and Aidan McDonough will both be attending there this fall. Madden had a terrific freshman season at NU, one that saw him selected to the Hockey East all-rookie team. The Huskies would also win a Hockey East championship last season. McDonough will be a freshman there this season after being selected by the Canucks in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL draft.

Jack Malone will attend Cornell University as a freshman this fall. He was a sixth-round selection by the Canucks in the 2019 draft.

Allowing players to develop their skills while playing in the NCAA is a strategy many teams are now adopting. With the vast number of players associated with the Vancouver Canucks that have chosen this avenue, it appears the Canucks are fully committed to this path.

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