The Washington Capitals selected Guelph Storm forward Jake Karabela with their 5th round selection, 149th overall at the 2022 NHL Draft.

Karabela had 12 goals, 33 assists and 45 points in 68 games for the Guelph Storm (OHL) in 2021-22, his rookie season of Junior hockey. In the OHL Playoffs the Guelph native had 4 points (2G, 2A) in 5GP.

The 5-foot-11, forward was one of the top players, serving as an assistant captain, at the CHL’s Top Prospects Game with a goal and an assist in Team White’s 3-1 victory.

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Guelph Storm forward and 2022 NHL Draft Prospect Jake Karabela showed his athleticism at the 2022 NHL scouting combine this past weekend. The Storm forward was a top performer in three drills that scouts had the athletes perform. 

Pull Ups – Athlete does as many consecutive pull ups they can while maintaining the correct technique.

Pull Ups Consecutive (max #)

Using a standard padded bench press, the athletes lift 50 per cent of their body weight, laying on their back and gripping the barbell with thumbs roughly shoulder-width apart. The starting position is with arms fully extended — the bar is then lowered to the chest, and after a slight pause, the athlete will push the bar as quickly as possible until their arms are fully extended.

Each player will perform three reps at maximum velocity with a pause between each rep. A device is also used to measure the velocity of the bar and the athlete’s ability to produce power.

50% of Body Weight (Power – watts/kg)

Pro Agility Test – The 5-10-5 yard shuttle (or 15-30-15 feet) evaluates multi-directional speed, agility and whole body reaction plus control. Each player will perform one sequence starting to the right and one sequence starting to the left.

Pro Agility Right (sec)

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A total of 23 OHL players were invited to this week’s 2022 NHL Scouting Combine taking place at HarborCenter in Buffalo, New York.

The NHL Scouting Combine provides prospects an opportunity to put their fitness and strength attributes on display, in addition to a chance to meet with NHL clubs on location.

Among the combine’s invitees was Guelph Storm forward Jake Karabela. In his debut OHL season Karabela posted 45 points (12G, 33A) in 68 games played.

Additionally, Karabela was named an assistant captain for the CHL Top Prospects Game where he had a dominant performance with a goal and an assist to help Team White to a 3-1 victory.

The Guelph forward finished on NHL Central Scouting’s Final list as the 62nd Ranked North American Skater, and was recently listed in The Hockey News’s Top 100 Prospects for the NHL Draft as the 69th top prospect.

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 The Ontario Hockey League announced the final ballot for both the OHL All-Rookie Team voting process, with final results to be announced on Friday, June 10. The final all-rookie ballots were established through a voting process that saw OHL General Managers vote for players/coaches within their own conference. They weren’t allowed to vote for players/coaches on their own team.

Among the final nominees was Guelph Storm forward Jake Karabela. In his debut OHL season Karabela established himself as a productive forward posting 45 points (12G, 33A) in 68 games played. Additionally, Karabela was named an assistant captain for the CHL Top Prospects Game where he had a dominant performance with a goal and an assist to help Team White to a 3-1 victory. The Guelph forward finished on NHL Central Scouting’s Final list as the 62nd Ranked North American Skater.

The final all-rookie ballot consists of the three top vote recipients from each conference at centre, left wing and right wing, in addition to six defenders from both the East and West. The final all-rookie goaltending ballot consists of all six rookie netminders from across the League this past season. A total of two OHL All-Rookie Teams will be announced following a final round of voting.

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OHL Forwards Jake Karabela and James Hardie were identified as some of the top North American Skaters eligible for this Summer’s upcoming NHL Draft.

Guelph Storm forward Jake Karabela was ranked a potential 2nd Round Draft Pick as the 62nd ranked North American Skater. Karabela finished his rookie season with the Storm with 45 points (12G, 33A) in 68GP. Karabela was also a star performer in the CHL Top Prospects Game with 1G, 1A and +2 rating in Team White’s 3-1 victory. In the playoffs, Karabela had 2 goals and 2 assists in 6GP in the Storm’s first round series versus the Soo Greyhounds.

Mississauga Steelheads forward James Hardie had a record breaking season to remember. Hardie set a new record for single-season points by a Steelheads forward with 77 points (41G, 36A) in 68 GP. The 2002 born forward is ranked as the 148th North American skater, up from the 204th spot in the midterm rankings.

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Guelph Storm forward, Jake Karabela was among the game’s brightest young stars for the annual CHL Top Prospects Game. The marquee event is a staple of the NHL Scouting calendar as the game brings the top 40 young NHL prospects from across the CHL’s three leagues; the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL, for practices, on-ice testing, media interviews, and finally the big game.

Before the opening puck drop Karabela impressed with a Top-5 performance in the 30M Skate with puck sprint (3.925 seconds, 4th) during on ice-testing.

In front of a packed Kitchener Memorial Auditorium of 5,969 fans Karabela put on a show scoring a goal and adding an assist for two points and a 3-1 win as part of a dominant Team White. 

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Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League announced today the rosters and captains for the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game to be held at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday, March 23.

The 40 players from across the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Western Hockey League have been divided into Team Red and Team White. Team White will be captained under Deyton Mateychuk and serving as assitant captains are Jake Karabela (Guelph Storm) and Tristan Luneau (Gatineau Olympiques).

In all, the 40 players count 18 from the OHL, 15 from the WHL, and seven from the QMJHL. Additionally, 23 CHL clubs are represented by at least one player, led by the Guelph Storm with four and Gatineau Olympiques, Kamloops Blazers, Seattle Thunderbirds, and Swift Current Broncos each with three, while 11 teams have multiple player representatives.

Behind the bench for Team White are TSN OverDrive’s Jeff “O-Dog” O’Neill alongside Al’s Brother, CHL legend Brian Kilrea, Ottawa 67’s hockey operations advisor Bert O’Brien, plus Guelph Storm head coach George Burnett as well as equipment manager Jake McKercher and athletic therapist Brie Donelson. Coaching Team Red are TSN OverDrive’s Jamie “Noodles” McLennan alongside OverDrive co-host Bryan Hayes, Kitchener Rangers alumnus and Memorial Cup champion Derek Roy, plus Rangers head coach Mike McKenzie as well as equipment manager Dan Lebold and athletic therapist Cory Birk.

The 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game airs live from the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on TSN, TSN.ca, the TSN app, and RDS on Wednesday, Mar. 23 at 8 p.m. Eastern. For more information, visit kubotatopprospects.ca.

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The Canadian Hockey League in association with National Hockey League Central Scouting announced the 40 players who have been invited to compete in the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

Slated for March 23 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game showcases the top-40 CHL players eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft from across the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In all, the 40 players count 18 from the OHL, 15 from the WHL, and seven from the QMJHL. Additionally, 23 CHL clubs are represented by at least one player, led by the Guelph Storm with four.

On the list of selected players was WDSE Client  Jake Karabela from the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm. After losing his initial rookie season due to the league shutdown in 2021-2022, Karabela has emerged as a top prospect with a 2nd Round Grade from NHL central scouting. The Guelph Ontario native has tallied 27 points (6G, 21A) in 40GP so far during the 2021-2022 OHL season.

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