WHL Lethbridge Hurricanes

Hurricanes Trade 1st Round Pick in 2010 CHL Import Draft

Published on June 29, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Lethbridge Hurricanes News Release


Lethbridge, AB - This afternoon, Hurricanes GM and Head Coach Rich Preston announced that Lethbridge has acquired Regina's 6th round pick in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft in exchange for the Canes first round pick (46th overall) in the 2010 CHL Import Draft. This was the pick originally acquired from the Portland Winterhawks in a trade last season. The Hurricanes next selection in the 2010 CHL Import Draft will be their second round (67th overall) pick and is expected to be made later this evening.

The 2010 CHL Import Draft order of selection along with a six-year historical recap of the draft can be viewed online at http://chl.ca/importDraft.php.

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 2009-10 season.

The WHL's Prince George Cougars used the number one selection in the 2010 CHL Import Draft by selecting Martin Marincin of Slovakia. The big defenseman was recently selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round (46th overall) in the 2010 NHL Draft this past weekend in Los Angeles.

Last year, Stanislav Galiev was selected first overall in the 2009 CHL Import Draft by the Saint John Sea Dogs before being chosen with the 86th pick of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. The Portland Winterhawks used the second overall pick to select Nino Niederreiter, the first European-born player selected in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and the highest Swiss-born player ever to be drafted when he was chosen fifth overall by the New York Islanders. Alexander Burmistrov of the Barrie Colts was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers eighth overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft after being selected 12th overall in the 2009 CHL Import Draft.

The Canes 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 hailed from Tampere, Finland; the same city as Hurricanes "Finnish Phenom" Juha Metsola. Kolppanen had a difficult season in 09-10, struggling with untimely injuries and adjustments to the North American game. 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.

The Hurricanes will look to make a second selection with only one of their European spots already being held by Swede Jacob Berglund. Berglund was acquired in a trade with the Portland Winterhawks last season which saw 2008 NHL 1st round draft pick Luca Sbisa, along with the Canes 5th round pick in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft moved to Portland in exchange for the 91-born Swedish forward and 92-born defenseman Daniel Johnston coming to Lethbridge. Portland and Lethbridge also agreed to swap first round selections in the 2010 CHL Import Draft - resulting in the Canes holding the 46th overall pick. Berglund will look for a breakout season in 10-11 after a solid rookie season in the WHL in 09-10 with 26 points (9G, 17A) - enough for second in the Hurricanes rookie scoring race. In 08-09, the 6'1, 200 pound center played for Malmo in Sweden and in 55 total games with the Under-18, Under-20 and Swedish 1 leagues, registered 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 total points and in 07-08 the notched 26 goals and 14 assists for 40 points in 44 total games.

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Western Hockey League Stories from June 29, 2010


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