The profile of the World Junior A Challenge continues to grow, as evidenced by the fact that 20 alumni of the event were selected at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, including three first rounders, tying the all-time high set at the 2007 draft.

Through the tournament’s first three years, 50 players have been drafted after playing in the World Junior A Challenge, and another 10 took part having already had their names called at the draft, making the tournament one of the must-sees on the international calendar.

The 2009 NHL Entry Draft included players from all three years of the World Junior A Challenge, including three members of the 2008 tournament all-star team (Cichy, Lee, Smith) and Jaroslav Janus, who earned a spot on the all-star team at the inaugural tournament in Yorkton, Sask. in 2006 before starring for Slovakia at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Ont.