University of Massachusets Athletics
Hockey’s Makar Selected Fourth in NHL Draft
June 23, 2017 | Hockey
"I'm extremely excited for Cale and for our UMass hockey program," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "I look forward to helping Cale develop into the great player he will become. His hockey ability is matched by his integrity and his character, so he will be a transformational player for our hockey team. It was great being here in Chicago to support Cale and to witness the joy he and his family experienced together. What a great day for the Makar's and for UMass hockey!"
Makar amassed 135 career points on 35 goals and 100 assists over 111 regular season contests with the Brooks Bandits over the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and added 37 points (9g, 28a) in 46 career postseason games with AJHL titles with Brooks in 2016 and 2017.
The Calgary, Alberta, native led all AJHL defensemen in scoring in his final season of junior hockey with 75 points (24g, 51a) in 2016-17 and was sixth overall in points, fifth in assists. He helped lead Brooks to their second straight league championship with 16 points (5g, 11a) in 13 games, with an additional eight points (3g, 5a) in five games to propel the squad to its first Western Canada Cup. Makar ranked second in scoring at the 2017 RBC Cup with eight points (2g, 6a) in five games.
In 2016-17, Makar racked up postseason honors, being selected as AJHL Top Defenceman, AJHL Most Valuable Player and AJHL Playoff MVP, and was named to the AJHL All-League Team. He was also named Western Canada Cup Top Defenceman and was selected to the All-Tournament Team, and was chosen as the RBC Cup Top Defenceman and Most Valuable Player, the first player to ever be named RBC Cup MVP in back-to-back seasons. Makar also received the CJHL Most Valuable Player Award, and won the prestigious RBC National Junior A Player of the Year Award.
As a rookie with the Bandits in 2015-16, Makar logged 55 points (10 goals, 45 assists) in 54 games, en route to AJHL All-League and All-Rookie recognition, as well as collecting AJHL and CJHL Rookie of the Year Awards, the Western Canada Cup Top Defenceman Award, and the RBC Cup Top Defenceman, Top Scorer and Most Valuable Player awards.
He was selected by Hockey Canada to compete for Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge in 2015 and 2016 and was named to the Tournament All-Star Team both years. Makar helped Canada West to a gold medal in 2015 and followed up by setting a tournament single-game record for points by a defenseman in 2016.
Makar is a part of a UMass incoming recruiting class for the 2017-18 season that is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation by Neutral Zone.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter (@UMassHockey) and Instagram (@MassachusettsHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
All-Time UMass NHL Draft Picks
Player - Team - Round - Pick - Year
Alex Berry - Toronto - 5th - 153rd - 2005
Justin Braun - San Jose - 7th - 201st - 2007
Ivan Chukarov - Buffalo - 7th - 182nd - 2015
P.J. Fenton - San Jose - 5th - 162nd - 2005
Mike Gaffney - Ottawa - 6th - 131st - 1994
Ben Gallacher - Florida - 4th - 93rd - 2010
Daniel Hobbs - New York Rangers - 7th - 198th - 2007
Dale Hooper - Montreal - 12th - 259th - 1991
Scott Horvath - Colorado - 6th - 184th - 2001
Kevin Jarman - Columbus - 4th - 103rd - 2003
Dan Juden - Tampa Bay - 6th - 137th - 1994
William Lagesson - Edmonton - 4th - 91st - 2014
Paul Lynch - Tampa Bay - 5th - 138th - 2001
Steve MacKinnon - Ottawa - 10th - 237th - 1994
Cale Makar - Colorado - 1st - 4th - 2017
Greg Mauldin - Columbus - 7th - 199th - 2002
Brandon Montour - Anaheim - 2nd - 55th - 2014
Martin Nolet - Los Angeles - 5th - 144th - 2006
Brad Norton - Edmonton - 9th - 215th - 1993
Tom O'Connor - Pittsburgh - 4th - 102nd - 1994
Brian Regan - Hartford - 10th - 239th - 1994
Jonathan Quick - Los Angeles - 3rd - 72nd - 2005
John Toffey - Tampa Bay - 9th - 287th - 2002
Stephen Werner - Washington - 3rd - 83rd - 2003
John Wessbecker - Tampa Bay - 7th - 225th - 2005
