Plymouth Whalers Take Czech Defenseman Jan Latal in CHL Import Draft

June 26, 2008 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Whalers President and General Manager Mike Vellucci announced the selection of 18-year-old defenseman Jan Latal in the annual Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. Latal - a right handed shot from the Czech Republic - was taken by the Whalers with the 55th selection of the draft.

The Whalers were scheduled to have the 25th pick in today's CHL Import Draft, but Vellucci decided to trade down when he moved the pick to Belleville for the Bulls' 55th selection in the Import Draft. Belleville also sent a fourth round pick in the 2011 OHL Draft to the Whalers to complete the deal.

Plymouth passed on its second selection of the Import Draft, 85th overall.

Latal played for Kladno in the Czech Republic last season, scoring three goals with three assists in 28 games. A knee injury (since repaired) cut Latal's season short last year. Before that, Latal played internationally for the Czech Republic in the Under-16 and Under-17 World Tournaments.

"Our scouts knew about him," said Vellucci. "Latal's a steady, stay-at-home defenseman. Although we traded down, he was still available and we were able to get a fourth round pick as well."

"Latal's got an excellent shot," said Plymouth scout Willy Langer. "He's a good skater with good vision. He's not afraid to play in traffic in front of the net or along the boards."

Latal comes from a hockey playing family. His brother, Martin, is a Phoenix Coyotes draft choice who has played the last two seasons for Prince Edward Island in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Latal's uncle, Jiri, played from 1989-92 for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Canadian Hockey League teams can play with two Imports. The Whalers currently have three - Carolina draft Michal Jordan, veteran Jozef Sladok and now Latal. Jordan, Sladok and Latal are expected to report to Plymouth's training camp in late August.

SMITH, JENKS NAMED TO USA HOCKEY JUNIOR EVALUATION CAMP: Current Whalers Jeremy Smith (Brownstown) and AJ Jenks (Wolverine Lake) have been named to the 2008 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp, being held in Lake Placid, NY on August 1-9.

A goaltender, Smith was selected by the Nashville Predators in the second round (54th overall) in the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft. He was signed by the Predators last season, but should return to Plymouth for the 2008-09 season. An OHL All-Star last season, Smith was selected by Plymouth in the fourth round (64th overall) in the 2005 OHL Draft and has compiled a 2.82 goals against average a 46-21-5 won-loss record over 79 career games. He played for the United States in the 2008 World Junior Championships and received USA Hockey's Dave Peterson Award in 2007 as the top junior goaltender in the United States.

A center/left wing, Jenks was recently selected in the fourth round (100th overall) by the Florida Panthers in this year's NHL Entry Draft. Originally selected by the Whalers in the seventh round (132nd overall) in the 2006 OHL Draft, Jenks had his best offensive year with the Whalers last season when he scored 26 goals with 29 assists for 55 points in 68 games. In two seasons with Plymouth, Jenks has scored 35 goals with 43 assists for 78 points over 136 games.

TERRY NAMED TO CANADIAN NATIONAL JUNIOR EVALUATION CAMP: Current Whaler Chris Terry has been named to Canada's National Junior Summer Evaluation Camp, being held July 25-29, 2008 in Ottawa, ON. Originally taken by the Whalers in the second round (29th overall) in the 2005 OHL Draft, Terry has improved offensively every season with the Whalers and scored 44 goals with 57 assists for 101 points in 68 games last year. Terry is 13th on Plymouth all-time career scoring list with 75 goals and 120 assists for 195 points in 200 games. An OHL all-star last season, Terry was selected in the 5th round (132nd overall) by Carolina in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from June 26, 2008


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