OKOTOKS, AB (April 1, 2021) ““ Former Okotoks Oilers defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker (Canmore, AB) has signed a three year, entry-level contract with the NHL”™s Ottawa Senators, it was announced today.
Bernard-Docker, 20, was chosen 26th overall by Ottawa in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He most recently completed his third year of competition for the University of North Dakota, in which he captured an NCHC championship and was named the conference”™s best Defensive Defenceman, as well as a second team conference all-star.
He played two seasons for the Oilers in 2016-17 and 2017-18, helping the team capture an AJHL South Division championship in 2018. In his final season, he was named the CJHL”™s Top Defenceman, the AJHL”™s Most Outstanding Defenceman, and was named to the AJHL South All-League Team and the CJHL Top Prospects Game.
He captured gold medals for Team Canada at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge and the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championship.
In his two seasons with Okotoks, Bernard-Docker recorded 63 points (27 goals, 36 assists) in 103 games, adding 21 points (9 goals, 12 assists) in 27 career playoff games.
He will be the third Oiler alumnus to play in the NHL after Corban Knight, who debuted for the Calgary Flames in 2013, and Rhett Gardner, who debuted last season for the Dallas Stars.