Hurricanes draft Kolppanen in 2009 CHL Import Draft

June 30, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Lethbridge Hurricanes News Release

Lethbridge, AB - The CHL Import Draft kicked off this morning with the first overall selection by the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Sea Dogs used the first overall pick to select Russian forward Stanislav Galiev, a top prospect for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft who played with the Indiana Ice in the USHL this past season.

The Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League used the second overall pick on forward Nino Niederreiter, who played with HC Davos in Switerzerland and the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League traded up to the third overall selection to acquire Swedish forward Gabriel Landeskog, who played this past season with Djurgarden.

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 2008-09 season.

This morning, Canes newly appointed GM and Head Coach Rich Preston announced that Lethbridge selected Finnish goaltender Ville Kolppanen with their first round pick (32nd overall) in the 2009 CHL Import Draft. The 6'1" 195 pound Finn is a 92-born goaltender who hails from Tampere, Finland; the same city as Hurricanes "Finnish Phenom" Juha Metsola. Kolppanen hails from the same junior club - Ilves Jr. which produced Metsola as well as Finnish standouts Tuuka Rask, Riku Helenius.

"Ville comes highly recommended from several sources and he has the size, skill and potential to be a very good goaltender in this league" said Preston "All of the scouting reports we have on him say he plays more of a North American style, so he should be able to adapt very quickly to the WHL game. We see him adding depth at the position for us and being a part of our program for several years."

In 2008 the Canes moved their first round pick to the Kootenay Ice in exchange for Kootenay's 7th round pick in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft. Lethbridge used their 2007 CHL Import Draft picks to select the Finnish born Metsola and Swiss born defenseman Luca Sbisa.

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Western Hockey League Stories from June 30, 2009

• Tigers Select Danish D-Man in CHL Import Draft - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Red Deer Rebels Select Jindra Barak In The CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• Import Draft Selection - Vancouver Giants
• Americans Select Goaltender, Forward in 2009 CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
• Calgary Hitmen Select Finnish Forward In 2009 CHL Import Draft - Calgary Hitmen
• Pats Select Poletin - Regina Pats
• Americans Select Goaltender in 2009 CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
• Chiefs Take Forward from the Czech Republic - Spokane Chiefs
• Warriors Select Herman 53rd Overall - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Blades Select Gustafsson in CHL Import Draft - Saskatoon Blades
• Kelowna Rockets Make CHL Import Selection - Kelowna Rockets
• Broncos Select Flames Draft Pick in Import Draft - Swift Current Broncos
• Rich Preston named General Manager and Head Coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Hurricanes draft Kolppanen in 2009 CHL Import Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Rebels Swap Picks With Brandon; Acquire Nathan Green - Red Deer Rebels
• Red Deer Rebels Select John Persson In The CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• T-Birds Take Rusian Foward in CHL Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Ice Select Defensemen in CHl Import Draft - Kootenay Ice
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• Raiders Select Right Winger Fredrik Cedergren of Sweden in 2009 CHL Import Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
• Wheaties Move Up to Take Finn - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Bruins Nab Czech Center in Import Draft - Chilliwack Bruins
• Cougars Select Jaroslav Vlach - Prince George Cougars
• Warriors Select Honejsek - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Erb To Become A Bison - Brandon Wheat Kings

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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