The Saskatoon Blades selected Swedish Left Winger Hampus Gustafsson with the 57th pick in the 2009 CHL Import Draft.Gustafsson, a 1991-born player from Malmo, Sweden, split last season between the Malmo Redhawks senior team and the Malmo Redhawks under-20 junior team. The 5'10, 174 pounder was also a member of Team Sweden at the Under-18 Four Nations Tournament in November at Lake Placid, New York and the Under-18 Five Nations Tournament in February at Nykoping, Sweden.
The selection of Gustafsson, along with returnee 1990-born Finnish defenseman Jyri Niemi, gives the Blades two import players for the upcoming season. Slovakian Center Milan Kytnar will remain on the Blades protected list after signing with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers. The overager is expected to turn pro this fall.
"Hampus is a kid who is a hard working player that plays a strong two-way game," says Blades General Manager and Head Coach Lorne Molleken. "We look forward to seeing him at training camp in the fall."
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