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OHL Erie Otters

Martin Misiak Selected as Erie Otters' First-Overall Pick in CHL Import Draft

July 5, 2023 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Erie Otters News Release


Erie, Pennsylvania - The global spotlight shone on City of Erie and the Otters organization on Wednesday, July 5, as the Canadian Hockey League hosted its 31st Annual Import Draft - with the Erie Otters holding the top pick in the Draft for the first time in franchise history. After holding the first-overall picks in the Ontario Hockey League's Priority Selection & U18 Priority Selection Drafts, the Otters would utilize their final highly-coveted pick by selecting Slovakian forward Martin Misiak.

For those watching last week's 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Martin Misiak's name may sound familiar - the right-winger from Banska Bystrica, Slovakia was selected in the second round, 55th overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks. While currently attending Blackhawks' Development Camp, the 6'2", 198 lbs. playmaker's name was called shortly after the formal start of the Import Draft at 11 A.M. EST.

Making quite a name for himself in his home country, Misiak was granted the opportunity multiple times throughout the last few seasons to suit up for Team Slovakia in international competition. Misiak's international competitive experience has seen him play in the U18 & U20 World Junior Championships, winning a gold medal in the former.

The scouting process for Misiak was made much easier for CHL teams - and especially the Erie Otters - during 2023, as the high-energy forward moved to the United States in February to play for the United States Hockey League's Youngstown (OH) Phantoms, winning the USHL playoff championship with the team along the way. Misiak suited up in 36 total games (27 regular season, nine playoff) during his time in the Mahoning Valley, scoring 27 points (8G+19A) with a +7 ranking, five power play goals, and three game-winning goals.

Statistics aside for Misiak, Otters' general manager Dave Brown said there were many factors that made the first-overall selection an easy one.

"Scott Grieve and I made several trips to see Martin play this year, so we are very familiar with what we're getting. Martin is best described as a complete player who combines his size with energy and tenacity to make his opponents uncomfortable. His big shot and quick release makes him a handful for goalies, and is someone who we feel will make an immediate impact." said Brown, "Martin was excellent during the playoffs for Youngstown, and gained post-season experience that we are excited to be adding."

The sentiments express by Brown were shared by Erie's director of hockey operations Scott Grieve, who spoke highly of what Misiak can provide for the organization.

"We are very excited to welcome Martin to the Otters. Watching Martin quite a bit down the back half of the season in Youngstown, it was evident to us that he can be an impact player at both ends of the rink for us. He not only contributes offensively, but makes life uncomfortable for the opposition." said Grieve, "We are excited to assist Martin in his development, and look forward to seeing him in an Otters uniform in September."

After drafting Ondrej Molnár with the fifth-overall pick in the 2022 Import Draft, this is the second consecutive year in which the Erie Otters have selected a Slovakian player - a move, this year, that was by design.

"Martin is very familiar with Erie, as he took in a few games last season while visiting his close friend Ondrej Molnár." said Brown, "As an organization, we are thrilled not only to be adding the player, but also watching him lead and help players like Ondrej on and off the ice."

The CHL Import Draft - first implemented in 1992 - provides the opportunity for the Ontario, Quebec, and Western Hockey Leagues to break outside of their region-locked North American scouting waters to find hockey talent abroad. This is the only draft every year that involves all three Major Junior hockey leagues simultaneously and collaboratively, and is the only crossover between leagues outside of the Memorial Cup. As well, this is the final CHL event of the 2022-23 season, with the end of the Import Draft marking the official start of the new season across the league(s). This was the seventh time in team history that the Erie Otters held a top-five pick in the CHL Import Draft.

In the 2022-23 season, two players selected during Import Draft hit the ice for the Otters: defenseman Artyom Kulakov (2020, #82 overall) who was a physical staple of the team's blueline, and forward Ondrej Molnár (2022, #5 overall) who showcased his shifty scoring ability.

SCOUTING REPORT:

"A hard forechecker, he forces opponents to rush their plays on breakouts and creates turnovers. He drives the net, attracts the defensive presence there, and gives his teammates more room around the offensive zone to deploy their offensive skills. The Slovak center plays with the same level of energy on the defensive side of the puck, too. He hunts attackers through the neutral zone, attaches himself to them in the defensive zone, and rarely lets go." - EliteProspects 2023 NHL Draft Guide

"A high-energy winger with above-average awareness and excellent skating, Misiak has a high floor and could grow his playmaking game to unlock second-line upside." - Sebastian High, Dobber Prospects

2023 NHL Entry Draft:

Ranked #45 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)

Ranked #72 by TSN/McKenzie

Ranked #81 by McKeen's Hockey

Ranked #115 by Elite Prospects

Ranked #130 by FCHockey

ALL-TIME CHL IMPORT DRAFT SELECTIONS (incl. 2023 pick):

2023 1 1 Martin Misiak 6.02 198 2004-09-30 RW Youngstown Phantoms Slovakian

2007 1 2 Jaroslav Janus 6.00 187 1989-09-21 G Bratislava Slovan Jr. Slovakian

2012 1 3 Oscar Dansk 6.02.5 187 1995-02-28 G Brynas IF Jr. Swedish

2008 1 4 Edgar Rybakov 6.01 185 1991-05-02 C Moscow HC CSKA-2 Lithuanian

2013 1 5 Andre Burakovsky 6.01 178 1995-02-09 LW Malmo IF Redhawks Swedish

1998 1 5 Nikita Alexeyev 6.06 227 1981-12-27 RW Krylia Sovetov Moskva-2 Russian

2022 1 5 Ondrej Molnar 5.11 161 2005-02-08 LW Nitra HK Slovakian

2019 1 8 Marat Khusnutdinov 5.09 154 2002-07-12 C Podolsk Vityaz U18 Russian

2003 1 12 Ilya Yakolev 6.02 180 1986-07-24 F Chelyabinsk Traktor-2 Russian

2018 1 12 Petr Cajka 6.00 163 2000-12-11 C Zug EV Jr. Czech

2006 1 12 Stanislav Polodna 6.00 176 1989-04-03 RW Ceske Budejovice Jr. Czech

1996 1 21 Arvids Rekis 6.00 216 1979-01-01 RD Dubuque Fighting Saints Latvian

2020 1 22 Alexei Kolosov 6.00 165 2002-01-04 G Team Belarus U20 Belarusian

2005 1 28 Ivan Maximkin 6.02 183 1988-03-05 LD Togliatti Lada-2 Russian

2000 1 28 Lubor Dibelka 6.03 183 1983-02-22 RW Zlin Jr. Czech

2010 1 29 Timofey Tankeev 6.02 180 1993-02-17 F St. Louis Jr. Blues Russian

2011 1 31 Sondre Olden 6.04 180 1992-08-29 LW Modo Jr. Norwegian

2004 1 31 Vladimir Tyufyakov 6.02 195 1987-05-17 LW Novosibirsk Sibir U18 Russian

2021 1 33 Jiri Tichacek 5.09 170 2003-01-30 LD Rytiri Kladno Jr. Czech

2009 1 36 Ramis Sadikov 5.02 220 1991-02-26 G Rus Moskva Russian

2011 1 37 Vladimir Tkachyov 6.00 182 1993-10-05 C Kazan Irbis Russian

2001 1 46 Alexander Karaulchuk 6.01 187 1983-07-27 C Kiev Sokol Ukranian

2014 1 48 Anton Karlsson 6.01.25 187 1996-08-03 LW Vastra Frolunda HC Jr. Swedish

2015 1 49 Erik Cernak 6.03.5 211 1997-05-28 RD Kosice HC Slovakian

1996 1 50 Vadim Sharapov 5.10 179 1978-01-13 LW CSKA Moskva-2 Russian

2002 1 51 Tomas Galasek 6.02 225 1985-09-09 LW Olomouc Jr. Czech

2016 1 53 German Poddubnyi 5.10 142 1999-06-09 C Philadelphia Jr. Flyers 16U Russian

2001 1 53 Michal Kokavec 6.05 209 1983-03-01 LW Zilina Jr. Slovakian

2017 1 57 Stephane Patry 5.10 161 2000-02-18 LW Geneve-Servette Jr. Swiss

1999 1 59 Ivan Huml 6.02 198 1981-09-06 RW Rytiri Kladno U20 Czech

2012 2 62 Artem Kuleshov 5.11 162 1995-04-20 LD Moscow Krylya Sovetov U17 Russian

2005 2 70 Christian Olsen 6.02 202 1987-10-08 RW Malmo IF Redhawks Jr. Danish

2014 2 71 Igor Vladykovskyi 6.02 200 1995-07-01 F Springfield Jr. Blues American

2009 2 71 Viktor Perezhogin 6.01 190 1992-04-01 LW Omsk Avangard Junior Russian

2015 1 75 Jakob Mayenschein 5.11 167 1997-04-01 C Landshut EV Jr. German

2020 2 82 Artyom Kulakov 6.02 174 2003-02-14 LD St. Petersburg Spartak U17 Russian

2021 2 90 Juraj Slafkovsky 6.03 216 2004-03-30 RW TPS Turku U20 Slovakian

The Erie Otters are thrilled to welcome Martin Misiak to the organization, and look forward to having him join the team in the Fall.

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