Americans Select Goaltender, Defenseman in 2020 CHL Import Draft

June 30, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release

KENNEWICK, WA - Tri-City Americans General Manager Bob Tory announced today that the team has selected goaltender Tomas Suchanek and defenseman Andrej Golian in the 2020 CHL Import Draft.

The Americans used their first pick in today's draft to select 17-year-old Tomas Suchanek at ninth overall. The six-foot-one and 175-pound goaltender hails from the Czech Republic. Last season he played 18 games for the Czech Under-16 team averaging 2.53 goals against and a .922 save percentage. He also played 15 games with HC Frydek-Mistek in the 2nd Czech Republic Hockey League where he finished with a 2.72 goals against average and .899 save percentage.

"Tomas is an elite goaltender in the 2003 age group," stated Tory. "Goaltending is the most important position on the team and we now have depth and competition moving forward."

Suchanek led the Czech Republic to a bronze medal at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Medicine Hat, Alta. last November. Through six games played at the tournament he posted a 3.29 goals against average and .883 save percentage. Suchanek was named the tournament's all-star goaltender.

In the second round, Tri-City selected Andrej Golian, a 2001-born defenseman from Slovakia, at 69th overall. Golian, six-foot-four and 200-pounds, played last season with HC Detva in Slovak Tipsport Liga, the top professional league in Slovakia. He totaled one goal, five assists, and 24 penalty minutes through 51 games played.

"Andrej is an experienced defenseman with international experience at both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and World Junior Championship for Slovakia," stated Tory.

The WHL has announced a Return to Play Protocol for the 2020-21 season with an anticipated start date of Friday, October 2. Further information is available here.

Americans Import Draft History

YEAR PLAYER PICK #

2020 Tomas Suchanek 9

2020 Andrej Golian 69

2019 Jan Cikhart 31

2019 David Homola 91

2018 Krystof Hrabik 41

2017 Roman Kalinichenko 36

2017 Sergei Sapego 96

2015 Juuso Valimaki 14

2014 Semyon Krasheninnikov 18

2014 Vladislav Lukin 78

2013 Jakub Illes 43

2011 Michel Plutnar 48

2011 Malte Strömwall 66

2010 Nikita Nesterov 16

2010 Nikita Kardashev 55

2009 Alex Pechurskiy 55

2009 Sergei Drozd 67

2008 Bogdan Kiselevich 60

2007 Petr Stoklasa 52

2007 Josef Tichy 55

2006 Juraj Valach 20

2006 Daniel Bartek 55

2004 Juraj Gracik 25

2004 Igor Bacek 71

2003 Marcus Jonasen 5

2002 Josef Vavra 58

2001 Peter Lorentzen 13

Western Hockey League Stories from June 30, 2020

• Jiri Patera Signs 3-Year, Entry-Level Contract with Vegas Golden Knights - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Broncos Add Forward and Defenceman in CHL Import Draft - Swift Current Broncos
• T-Birds Select Samuel Knazko in First Round of CHL Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Blades Select Budding Star Brad Lambert in CHL Import Draft - Saskatoon Blades
• Americans Select Goaltender, Defenseman in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
• Wheat Kings Draft Russian Defenceman in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Hitmen Select Two Players in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Calgary Hitmen
• WHL Clubs Select 25 Players from Eight Nations in 2020 CHL Import Draft - WHL
• Rebels Select Promising Czech Winger in CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• Oil Kings Select Janis Svanenbergs in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Cougars Draft Finnish Forward in CHL Import Draft - Prince George Cougars
• Broncos Add Forward and Defenceman in CHL Import Draft - Swift Current Broncos
• Blazers Select Defenseman Viktor Persson in CHL Import Draft - Kamloops Blazers
• Chiefs Select Defenseman David Jiricek in CHL Import Draft - Spokane Chiefs
• Raiders Select Shyla in CHL Import Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
• Tigers Select Oskari Kuntonen in CHL Import Draft - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Hurricanes Select Nikita Chibrikov in CHL Import Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Rockets Select Krutil In Import Draft - Kelowna Rockets
• Giants Select Slovakian Defenceman Marko Stacha with 90th Overall Pick in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Vancouver Giants
• Winnipeg Ice Select Henri Nikkanen and Eugen Rabcan in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Winnipeg Ice
• Giants Select Swedish Forward Fabian Lysell 30th Overall in the 2020 CHL Import Draft - Vancouver Giants
• Warriors Select Rysavy in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Royals Select Marcus Almquist in CHL Import Draft - Victoria Royals
• Broncos Acquire Draft Pick from Victoria - Swift Current Broncos
• Pats Select Stanislav Svozil 15th Overall in 2020 Import Draft - Regina Pats
• Royals Make Trade with Broncos - Victoria Royals

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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