Chiefs Select Russian Defenseman Yegor Arbuzov in CHL Import Draft

Published on June 28, 2018 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release

The Spokane Chiefs selected 2001-born defenseman Yegor Arbuzov of Russia with the 50th overall pick in the CHL Import Draft on Thursday morning.

Arbuzov, who will be first eligible for the NHL Entry Draft in 2019, stands 6-foot and 187 pounds. He played 22 games for CSKA Moscow in the Russian under-17 league last season, scoring eight goals and 13 points. He added one assist in seven games with Krasnaya Armiya Moscow of the Russian MHL junior league, along with a goal in seven games with the Russian U17 international team.

Arbuzov is the first Russian player selected by Spokane since 2001, when they selected forward Alexei Smirnov with the 28th overall pick, and first ever Russian defenseman. The last Russian to suit up for the Chiefs was forward Yegor Mikhailov, selected 46th overall in 1996. Mikhailov appeared in 45 games with Spokane during the 1996-97 season, scoring 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points.

Other notable former Russian imports for the Chiefs include forwards Dmitri Leonov, Maxim Bets and Valeri Bure.

Leonov was selected 13th overall in the import draft in 1993 and played three seasons in Spokane, highlighted by a team-leading 95-point performance during the 1995-96 season.

Bets was the Chiefs' first ever CHL Import Draft pick in 1992 at 26th overall and holds multiple franchise records, including points by a rookie (106), goals by a rookie (49) and points in a single game (9).

Bure played for the Chiefs from 1991-94 and ranks sixth in franchise history in goals scored with 135. His 68 goals during the 92-93 campaign remain a franchise record.

Arbuzov joins Czech defenseman Filip Kral as the Chiefs' two allowed import players. Kral earned the Chiefs' Rookie of the Year award after scoring 35 points (9G-26A) in 54 games last season. He was selected in the fifth round (149th overall) of the 2018 NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Western Hockey League Stories from June 28, 2018

• Hitmen Announce Radio Broadcast Schedule - Calgary Hitmen
• Silvertips Select Forward Peter Melcher of Slovakia in the 2018 CHL Import Draft - Everett Silvertips
• T-Birds Select Andrej Kukuca and Simon Kubicek in CHL Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Rockets Select RD Lassi Thomson in CHL Import Draft - Kelowna Rockets
• Red Deer Rebels Take Two Players In CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• CHL Import Draft Recap - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Kiviniemi and Pynnonen Selected by Broncos at 2018 CHL Import - Swift Current Broncos
• Blazers Select Martin Lang and Joonas Sillanpaa in 2018 CHL Import Draft - Kamloops Blazers
• Americans Select Krystof Hrabik in 2018 CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
• WHL Clubs Select 31 Players from Nine Nations in 2018 CHL Import Draft - WHL
• Michael Dyck Named Head Coach of the Vancouver Giants - Vancouver Giants
• Red Deer Rebels Take Two Players in CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• Wheat Kings Select Brannstrom, Patera in CHL Import Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Winterhawks Select Two Players in CHL Import Draft - Portland Winterhawks
• Blades Add Two Players in CHL Import Draft - Saskatoon Blades
• Pats Announce Hockey Operations Changes - Regina Pats
• Chiefs Select Russian Defenseman Yegor Arbuzov in CHL Import Draft - Spokane Chiefs
• Oil Kings Select Alistrov Second Overall in 2018 CHL Import Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Warriors Complete CHL Import Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Cougars Select Czech Forward in CHL Import Draft - Prince George Cougars
• Hurricanes Select Goaltender, Defenseman in CHL Import Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Pats Take Sergei Alkhimov & Nikita Sedov in CHL Import Draft - Regina Pats
• Raiders Select Protas in CHL Import Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
• Royals Select Phillip Schultz in CHL Import Draft - Victoria Royals
• ICE Select Defenceman Valtteri Kakkonen in CHL Import Draft - Kootenay Ice
• Vancouver Giants to Pass on Both Selections in the 2018 CHL Import Draft - Vancouver Giants

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

• Spokane Chiefs Lose, 7-1, in Kelowna, Play Regina at Home on Wednesday
• Brody Gillespie The Overtime Hero As Chiefs Win, 4-3, Over The Vees
• Chiefs Continue Trip North with Saturday Contest against Rockets
• Brody Gillespie the Overtime Hero as Chiefs Win, 4-3, Over the Vees
• Chiefs Reassign Forward Kaslo Ferner, Trim Roster to 23