From 27th overall selection Vladislav Namestnikov to 209th pick Scott Wilson, 18 alumni of the World Junior A Challenge were among the 210 players who were chosen at last weekend’s 2011 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minn.

Namestnikov, selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning, is the 13th WJAC alumnus in the tournament’s five-year history to be a first-round pick, while four members of the gold medal-winning United States entry from 2010, including tournament MVP Scott Mayfield, chosen 34th overall by the New York Rangers, were also selected.

Since the first World Junior A Challenge in Yorkton and Humboldt, Sask., in 2006, 118 drafted players have taken part in the tournament, either prior to their selection or during the season following.