Hitmen Select Two Players in 2021 CHL Import Draft
June 30, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
Calgary, AB - The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club today announced the selection of 17-year-old forwards Maxim Muranov and Anton Atashevich in the 2021 CHL Import Draft.
The Hitmen used their first-round pick, 35th overall, on Muranov. The talented winger from Moscow, Russia tallied more than a point a game last season in the Russian U18 league collecting 13 points (4g, 9a) in 10 games. He also notched another three points (1g, 2a) in five playoff games.
[CHL Import Logo EN]Calgary then drafted Atashevich in the second round, 92nd overall. The Belarusian excelled in the 2019/20 season playing U17's in his home country of Belarus where he was second in team scoring with 44 points (14, 28a) in 46 games. Last year he graduated to the U18 league, finishing third on his team in rookie scoring with 10 points (2g, 8a) in 36 games.
"We are very excited to draft both Maxim and Anton and welcome them to our program," said Hitmen General Manager Jeff Chynoweth. "We entered this draft looking to build around our existing group of 17 and 18-year-old's and believe their potential skill will complement the depth we have in our 2003 and 2004 age groups."
MAXIM MURANOV - FORWARD HOMETOWN: Moscow, Russia DOB: June. 2, 2004 HEIGHT: 6'2" WEIGHT: 163 lbs. SHOOTS: Left
Regular Season
Team League GP G A PTS PIM
2020-21 Dynamo Moskva U18 Russia U18 10 4 9 13 6
2020-21 Dynamo Moskva U18 Russia U17 11 3 2 5 31
Anton Atashevich - FORWARD HOMETOWN: Minsk, Belarus DOB: March 27, 2004 HEIGHT: 5'11" WEIGHT: 175 lbs. SHOOTS: Right
Regular Season
Team League GP G A PTS PIM
2020-21 Team Belarus U18 Belarus2 36 2 8 10 8
2019-20 Team Belarus U17 Belarus Vysshaya 46 14 28 42 30
The Hitmen still hold the playing rights to 18-year-old defenceman Alexei Garapuchik who has been placed on the Special Import List. The Belarusian was the 60th player taken in the 2020 CHL Import Draft.
All three players in Muranov, Atashevich and Garapuchik are eligible to attend training camp this fall but under CHL rules teams are allowed a maximum of two weeks into the regular season to decide which two imports will make the roster.
Past Hitmen CHL Import Draft selections include: Jonas Peterek (2020 & 2019) Andrei Grishakov (2016) Vladislav Yeryomenko (2016), Pavel Karnaukhov (2014), Radel Fazleev (2013), Pavel Padakin (2012), Victor Rask (2011), Bostjan Golicic (2007), Freddie Pettersson (2005), Konstantin Pushkarev (2004), Fredrik Sjostrom (2001) and Pavel Brendl (1998).
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