Canucks Select Six Players in 2016 Draft

by Mark Caswell, Jr.

Jun 27, 2016

The Vancouver Canucks selected a total of six players in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft: defenceman Olli Juolevi fifth overall, right wing William Lockwood 64th overall, defenceman Cole Candella 140th overall, left wing Jakob Stukel 154th overall, centre Rodrigo Abols 184th overall and centre Brett McKenzie 194th overall.

Juolevi, 18, finished third among Ontario Hockey League rookie defencemen in scoring in 2015.16, registering 42 points (9-33-42) in 57 games for the London Knights. Skating in his first full season in North America, the 6-2, 182-pound defenceman also earned OHL Second All-Rookie Team and OHL Third All-Star Team honours. During the 2016 playoffs, Juolevi registered 14 points in 18 games to help the Knights capture the OHL Championship. Named to the tournament All-Star Team, he then added seven points in four games to help the Knights Capture their second Memorial Cup.

Lockwood, 18, appeared in 60 games and collected 33 points (13-20-33) for USA-18 in the NTDP. He also played in the USHL for Team USA this season where he accumulated six points (3-3-6) and 27 points. The 5’11”, 172-pound forward hails from Royal Oak, Michigan.

Candella, 18, spent the 2015.16 season with Hamilton (OHL), recording 20 points (4-16-20) and 12 penalty minutes in 37 games. The 6’1”, 189-pound defenceman is from Mississauga, Ontario.

Stukel, 18, accumulated 56 points (32-22-56) and eight penalty minutes in 57 games with the Calgary Hitmen (WHL) this season. He also appeared in 12 games for the Vancouver Giants (WHL) in 2015.16, tabulating four points (2-2-4). The 6’0”, 185-pound forward is from Surrey, BC.

Abols, 20, spent the 2015.16 season with Portland (WHL), collecting 49 points (20-29-49) in 62 games. The Riga, Latvia native represented his country at the 2013 World Junior Championships and at the 2015 World Championships.

McKenzie, 19, recorded 53 points (26-27-53) and 43 penalty minutes in 66 games with North Bay (OHL) this season. The 6’2”, 190-pound forward hails from Ottawa, Ontario.