Chiefs Select German Goaltender, Forward in 2025 CHL Import Draft Wednesday

July 2, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release

Spokane, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs selected German goaltender Linus Vieillard with the 57th overall pick and German forward Elias Pul with the 118th overall pick in the 2025 CHL Import Draft Wednesday morning. Both are 2006-born players and will be entering their 19-year-old seasons in 2025-26.

"We are excited with the two players we selected today. Our European scout, Janik Beichler, was thorough in his research and evaluations of both players and feel they can contribute to our team right away," Spokane Chiefs General Manager Matt Bardsley said. "When we were advised by Dawson Cowan that he would be moving on to NCAA hockey next year, we felt it was important to select a goaltender with our first selection to join Carter Esler next season."

Vieillard, a 6-foot-1 goaltender, spent the 2024-25 season with Eisbären Juniors Berlin U20 where he posted a 2.16 GAA over 23 games, including five shutouts. Vieillard also represented his country in net at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship where he logged a 2.66 GAA and a .915 SV% in three games.

"Linus had a strong season, including the World Junior Championship where he started for Team Germany as an underager," Spokane Chiefs European Scout Janik Beichler said. "He is a technically sound goaltender and a very calm presence in net, which should allow him to make an immediate impact."

Pul, a 5-foot-11 winger, spent the 2024-25 season with Blue Devils Weiden of DEL2 and logged 16 points on nine goals and seven assists in 42 games. He added another pair of assists in nine playoff games. Pul played alongside Vieillard for Team Germany at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

"Elias is an exciting player who can play all three forward positions and will bring a lot of speed, energy and skill to the lineup," Beichler said. "He has a full pro season in the DEL2 under his belt and was named the league's best young player of the season."

Last year's import players were 2004-born Swedish forward Rasmus Ekström and 2006-born Kazakh forward Assanali Sarkenov. Sarkenov is expected to return to Spokane for the 2025-26 season, but Ekström has aged out of the Western Hockey League and will not return.

As part of a new policy adopted for the 2025-26 season, CHL clubs will now be permitted to carry up to three import players on their rosters.

Western Hockey League Stories from July 2, 2025

• Broncos Add Two in CHL Import Draft - Swift Current Broncos
• Broncos Name DeSilva 11th Head Coach in Franchise History - Swift Current Broncos
• 142 Players Selected During the 2025 CHL Import Draft - WHL
• Chiefs Select German Goaltender, Forward in 2025 CHL Import Draft Wednesday - Spokane Chiefs
• Five Rockets Prospects Named to USA National Development Camps - Kelowna Rockets
• Six Hurricanes Attending NHL Development Camps - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Giants Select Czech Shutdown Defender Skok in CHL Import Draft - Vancouver Giants
• Tigers Sign Kor to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Royals Select Three Players in 2025 CHL Import Draft - Victoria Royals
• Hitmen Select Three at CHL Import Draft - Calgary Hitmen
• WHL Clubs Select 50 Players from 13 Nations in 2025 CHL Import Draft - WHL
• Rockets 2025 CHL Import Draft Recap - Kelowna Rockets
• Warriors Add Trefny, Eriksen at CHL Import Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Portland Selects Eric Nilson in 2025 CHL Import Draft - Portland Winterhawks
• Cougars Select Dmitri Yakutsenak and Alexander Levshyn in 2025 CHL Import Draft - Prince George Cougars
• Rebels select two at 2025 CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• T-Birds Make 2 Selections in CHL Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Hurricanes Select Trio in CHL Import Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Pats Select Pradel, Ubl and Schams in 2025 CHL Import Draft - Regina Pats
• Wenatchee Wild Select Three in Canadian Hockey League Import Draft Wednesday - Wenatchee Wild
• Blazers Select Two Players in 2025 CHL Import Draft - Kamloops Blazers
• Blades Add Tye Scherger as Assistant Coach - Saskatoon Blades
• Silvertips Pick up Vanhanen, Seidl in 2025 CHL Import Draft - Everett Silvertips
• Americans Add One Defenseman, Two Forwards In 2025 CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
• Eight Oil Kings at NHL Development Camps - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Blades Draft 2007-Born Forward Dustin Willhöft in 2025 CHL Import Draf - Saskatoon Blades
• Angel of the Winds Arena to Host NHL Prospects Game with Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks - Everett Silvertips

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.

Other Recent Spokane Chiefs Stories

• Chiefs' Gillespie Among Ten WHLers Invited to the 2025 USA Hockey Hlinka Gretzky Cup Selection Camp
• Spokane Chiefs Give Back
• Spokane Chiefs Give Back
• Chiefs Select German Goaltender, Forward in 2025 CHL Import Draft Wednesday
• 2025 CHL Import Draft Set to Take Place Tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. PST