New Faces in Islanders' Organization
Oct 8, 2020The New York Islanders, parent club of the Bridgeport Islanders, selected five players on Wednesday during the 2020 National Hockey League Draft. Forwards Alexander Ljungkrantz (#90 overall), Alex Jefferies (#121) and William Dufour (#152), defenseman Matias Rajaniemi (#183) and goaltender Henrik Tikkanen (#214) were selected in rounds three through seven.
Ljungkrantz (pictured), 18, scored 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 42 games with Brynas’ under-20 club in Sweden’s SuperElit league last season. He also made his Swedish Hockey League debut with Brynas’ top club in 2019-20, scoring one goal in three games. A native of Gavle, Sweden, Ljungkrantz helped his country to a bronze medal at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The Islanders selected the 6’1”, 179 lbs. forward with their first selection of the 2020 NHL Draft in the third round, #90 overall.
Jefferies, 18, recorded 69 points (33 goals, 36 assists) in 32 games last season at The Gunnery Preparatory High School (USHS-Prep) in Washington, CT. The Farmington, MA native led the team in points and goals during his second season with the club, while placing eighth among New England Prep players in goals (33) and points per game (2.16). The Islanders selected the 6’0” 195 lbs. forward in the fourth round, #121 overall. Jefferies is committed to play college hockey at Merrimack College this season.
Dufour, 18, recorded a career high 55 points (28 goals, 27 assists) in 59 games last season between the Chicoutimi Sagueneens and Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The 6’2”, 195 lbs. forward recorded 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 31 games for the Sagueneens and 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) for the Voltigeurs. Dufour, a Quebec native, played for Team Canada Red at the 2018 Under-17 World Hockey Championship, where he scored two goals in six tournament games. This season, the Islanders fifth-round pick (#152 overall) has three assists in two games for Drummondville.
Rajaniemi, 18, scored 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 39 games last season with the Pelicans under-20 club in Finland’s Jr. A SM-liiga. The 6’4”, 201 lbs. defenseman also made his Liiga debut with the Pelicans top club in 2019-20, recording two assists in 12 games. The Islanders selected the Lahti, FIN native in the sixth round, #183 overall.
Tikkanen, 20, posted an .895 save percentage in 39 games played last season for HIFK’s under-20 club in Finland’s Jr. A SM-liiga. The Lohja, FIN native has a .933 save percentage and 1.50 goals against average in two games for Iisalmi Peli Karhut (IPK) of Finland’s Mestis League in this season. The Islanders selected the 6’8”, 201 lbs. goaltender in the seventh round, #214 overall.