WHL Lethbridge Hurricanes

Hurricanes Cap Exciting Import Draft Day

Published on June 29, 2011 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Lethbridge Hurricanes News Release


Lethbridge, AB - The Lethbridge Hurricanes had an exciting CHL Import Draft which saw them select a pair of European import players. Canes GM and Head Coach Rich Preston announced early in the day that the Lethbridge Hurricanes selected Swedish defenseman Albin Blomqvist [Bloo-M-Qwist] in the first round of the 2011 CHL Import Draft (12th overall). Blomqvist is a 6'3", 194 pound defenseman who was a member of the Swedish U-17 and U-18 National teams and was the winner of a silver medal in the 2010-11 U18 World Juniors. Most recently he was ranked 71st among European skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings prior to the 2011 NHL Draft. His brother, Anton, was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets, 167th overall in 2009.

"From the video we've seen and the scouting reports we have Albin is a big strong kid, who plays very strong in the defensive zone" said Canes Assistant GM Brad Robson "He's a strong skater and an excellent penalty killer who uses his size and strength to win battles - a solid steady defensive d-man with some offensive upside."

Preston was not finished there as he then announced a trade in the afternoon which saw Lethbridge swap their 8th round pick in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft to Spokane in exchange for the Chiefs first round pick (56th overall) in the 2011 CHL Import Draft. The Canes then used this pick to select Slovakian Juraj Bezuch [Yur-EE Be-Zoo-ch] a 5'10 175 pound forward. Bezuch has been a member of both the U18 and U20 Slovakian National team and last season he tallied 38 goals and 27 assists for 65 points in 40 games in the U18 Extraliga Slovakia. The 93-born forward has a late birthdate and is eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft.

The 2011 CHL Import Draft Summary can be viewed online by following the link at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com

Each team in the CHL is permitted to carry two European Import players each season. These players are selected annually at the Import Draft, with the order of selection rotating through each of the three leagues in the CHL using an inverse order of their final regular season standings from the 2010-11 season. Lethbridge was originally slated to select 72nd overall in the second round before trading up. The Canes were looking to fill two spots after the release of Swedish forward Jacob Berglund and Russian forward Alex Kuvaev. Berglund signed on to play pro hockey in Sweden for the 2011-12 season while Kuvaev was re-entered into the talent pool for the 2011 CHL Draft.

To start, the OHL's London Knights traded up for the first selection in the 2011 CHL Import Draft and used it to select Finnish prospect Olli Maatta. This was followed by the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts who traded up to select Russian Mikail Gregorenko. The Calgary Hitmen were the first WHL team to make a selection opting for Swedish Centre Victor Rask with the third overall pick. Teams are permitted to trade draft picks up to and during the Import Draft process.

Last year, the WHL's Prince George Cougars used the number one selection of the 2010 CHL Import Draft by selecting Martin Marincin of Slovakia. The big defenseman had been selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round (46th overall) in the 2010 NHL Draft. The Sarnia Sting then selected this year's OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year and 2012 NHL Entry Draft prospect Nail Yakupov. With the third overall pick the Halifax Mooseheads selected 2012 NHL Entry Draft prospect and Czech Republic National Junior Team member Martin Frk.

Four players selected in the 2010 CHL Import Draft were recently chosen in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft on June 24 in Minnesota including Sven Bartschi of the Portland Winterhawks who went 13th overall to the Calgary Flames, Vladislav Namestnikov of the London Knights who was picked 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nicklas Jensen of the Oshawa Generals who was chosen 29th overall by the Vancouver Canucks, and Rickard Rakell of the Plymouth Whalers who was chosen 30th overall by the Anaheim Ducks.

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Western Hockey League Stories from June 29, 2011


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