IMPORT DRAFT BEGINS
June 27, 2007 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release
Toronto, Ontario -- The 2007 Canadian Hockey League Import draft is underway and the Western Hockey League's newest team, the Edmonton Oil Kings have made a 17-year old center from the Czech Republic the first overall selection.
The Kings used the first pick to choose 6'2" 198 lb Tomas Vincour. The Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters and the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League used the second and third picks overall to grab goalkeepers.
With the second pick, Erie selected 18-year old Jaroslav Janus of Slovakia while the Sea Dogs opted for 18-year old Robert Mayer of the Kloten Flyers.
The second WHL club to make a selection was Portland and the Winter Hawks used the fourth overall pick to grab 18-year old left-winger Radim Valchar from the Czech Republic.
The Brandon Wheat Kings, who are expected to draft one European player to join left-winger Daniel Bartek on this year's roster, will have to sit back and wait for their pick. Barring any last minute changes, the Wheat Kings are slated to make their selection (49th overall) at approximately 4:30 p.m. this afternoon.
Former first round Import picks of the Wheat Kings have included the likes of defenceman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and forwards Jakub Sindel, Sami Sandell and Juraj Simek. A sixth round draft choice of the Vancouver Canucks, Simek scored 28 goals and 57 points in 58 games for the Wheat Kings in 2006-07.
What makes this year's Import draft interesting is the fact that only 45 European players were chosen at the National Hockey League Entry Draft in Columbus this past weekend. That was well down from the record 123 picked by NHL clubs in 2000. Of that total, only nine Russians were selected.
Fans wanting to keep up with this year's CHL Import draft can do so by going online at www.chl.ca
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Western Hockey League Stories from June 27, 2007
- Hitmen Select Two Players in CHL Import Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- Silvertips Select Karamnov in CHL Import Draft - Everett Silvertips
- Americans Trade Valach in Annual CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
- Giants Acquire Import Defenseman - Vancouver Giants
- Wheat Kings Opt For Russian - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Chiefs Select Austrian Defenseman - Spokane Chiefs
- T-Birds Select Finnish Goalie In Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hansch Steps Down As Director Of Player Personnel - Kamloops Blazers
- Red Deer Rebels Make Import Pick - Red Deer Rebels
- Cougars Select Magnusson 28th Overall - Prince George Cougars
- Bruins select David Hoda in Import Draft - Chilliwack Bruins
- Bruins select David Hoda in CHL Import Draft - Chilliwack Bruins
- Edmonton Oil Kings Select Tomas Vincour In CHL Import Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rockets Announce First Round Pick in 2007 CHL Import Draft - Kelowna Rockets
- IMPORT DRAFT BEGINS - Brandon Wheat Kings
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