From second-overall selection Ryan Murray to 208th pick Justin Haché, alumni of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge were front and centre at last weekend’s NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, with 65 chosen.

While the No. 1 pick in the draft was not a U17 alumnus for just the third time since 2001, Murray led a group of 18 first-round selections, the third-highest mark ever – only the 2003 (21) and 2007, 20 (20 each) drafts had more.

Murray, who played at the 2010 tournament in Timmins, Ont., was also one of two Team West captains selected early; Derrick Pouliot, who wore the ‘C’ at the 2011 event in Winnipeg, Man., went eighth to the host Penguins.

The majority of the players chosen were alumni of the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, and it wasn’t surprising that the highest per-team draft totals came from the three that finished with medals around their necks in Winnipeg:

• Ontario – gold medal: 13 players
• United States – silver medal: 10 players
• Pacific – bronze medal: eight players

When 2010 alumni (late birthdays and players who went undrafted in 2011) are included in the totals, Ontario led all Canadian regions and national teams, with the Americans right behind.

• 15 – Ontario (2010 – Ceci, Thomson; 2011 – Altshuller, Athanasiou, Curcuruto, Finn, Gaunce, Graham, Kea, Koekkoek, Laughton, Marcantuoni, Paterson, Pelech, Wilson)
• 13 – United States (2010 – McCabe, Schmaltz, Wuthrich; 2011 – Carrick, Di Pauli, Grzelcyk, Kerdiles, Matteau, Olson, Samuelsson, Sieloff, Skjei, Trouba)
• 10 – Pacific (2010 – Smith, Thrower; 2011 – Bourke, Dumba, Hodges, Olsen, Reinhart, Rielly, Walters, Winther)
• 7 – West (2010 – Murray; 2011 – Driedger, Leipsic, Pouliot, Seaman, Severson, Stephenson)
• 6 – Quebec (2010 – Beauvillier, Bussières; 2011 – Fournier, Hudon, Matheson, Tremblay)
• 4 – Sweden (2010 – Åberg, Görtz, Nielsen, Ryan)
• 3 – Atlantic (2010 – Haché, Melindy; 2011 – Haché, Whitney)
• 3 – Finland (2011 – Pokka, Teravainen, Vainonen)
• 2 – Czech Republic (2010 – Hyka; 2011 – Langhamer)
• 2 – Russia (2010 – Grigorenko, Zlobin)

CLICK HERE for a complete list of World Under-17 Hockey Challenge alumni selected at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

The 65 alumni selected this year mean that since the tournament debuted as the Quebec Cup in 1986, just shy of 1,300 players with U17 experience have been chosen at the NHL Entry Draft, including 280 first-rounders and 15 No. 1 picks.

U17 ALUMNI SELECTED FIRST OVERALL AT THE NHL ENTRY DRAFT

• 2011 – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Edmonton Oilers | 2010 – Pacific
• 2010 – Taylor Hall | Edmonton Oilers | 2008 – Ontario
• 2009 – John Tavares | New York Islanders | 2006 – Ontario
• 2007 – Patrick Kane | Chicago Blackhawks | 2005 – United States
• 2006 – Erik Johnson | St. Louis Blues | 2005 – United States
• 2004 – Alexander Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | 2002 – Russia
• 2003 – Marc-André Fleury | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2001 – Quebec
• 2002 – Rick Nash | Columbus Blue Jackets | 2001 – Ontario
• 2001 – Ilya Kovalchuk | Atlanta Thrashers | 2000 – Russia
• 1998 – Vincent Lecavalier | Tampa Bay Lightning | 1997 – Quebec
• 1997 – Joe Thornton | Boston Bruins | 1995 – Ontario
• 1995 – Bryan Berard | Ottawa Senators | 1994 – United States
• 1993 – Alexandre Daigle | Ottawa Senators | 1992 – Quebec
• 1989 – Mats Sundin | Quebec Nordiques | 1988 – Sweden
• 1987 – Pierre Turgeon | Buffalo Sabres | 1986 – Quebec

CLICK HERE for an all-time list of World Under-17 Hockey Challenge alumni selected at the NHL Entry Draft.