Rebels Select Promising Czech Winger in CHL Import Draft
June 30, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
With the COVID-19 cloud hanging over the international sporting world, the Red Deer Rebels entered Tuesday's Canadian Hockey League import draft knowing only that they would select one player.
With the 18th overall pick, the Rebels snagged right winger Tomas Chlubna of the Czech Republic.
While the promising forward could very well be a productive player for the Rebels, there's no guarantee when he'll actually show up in Red Deer with the start of the 2020-21 WHL season in limbo.
On the other hand, when the season does begin - and the WHL has set a tentative date of Oct. 2 - the Rebels are confident that Chlubna will report.
"With the COVID, there's a lot of uncertainty about everything," said Rebels assistant general manager Shaun Sutter. "But our understanding is that he wants to play (in North America), that he wants to come to the CHL.
"It's a real weird year for the import draft because there's a lot of players who have decided to stay in Europe. Some teams took names today who have contracts in Europe that they can't get out of."
Chlubna, who turns 18 next week, is facing no such obstacle despite playing the 2019-20 season with his hometown Dukla Jihlava in the Czech second division pro league.
The 183-pound forward, who stands a shade over six-foot-two, scored six goals and recorded 16 points and 22 minutes in penalties with the pro squad after putting up 22 goals and 44 points the previous year with the Jihlava junior team.
"He played second division pro hockey with men last season. Not a lot of guys his age did that," said Sutter.
"He's a taller kid with good hands and he can shoot the puck. He was captain of the Czech team in the (European tournament) Five Nations Cup in February and has always been a good guy on their national teams."
Chlubna picked up three assists in four games with the Czech team in the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky tournament and had two assists in five games in the 2018 world under-17 championship.
Chlubna is ranked 52nd among European skaters by Central Scouting and 153rd overall by McKeen's Hockey for this year's NHL entry draft.
"He has a chance to be selected in the upcoming NHL draft," said Sutter. "He has kind of an offensive pedigree. He's always scored with his age group."
In selecting Chlubna, Sutter relied on the advice of former Rebels captain Adam Musil, who last season played in the top division Czech Extraliga.
"We haven't talked to him (Chlubna) directly," said Sutter. "Adam is pretty good friends with him and he actually recommended him to us, said he's a pretty good kid.
"There's a comfort level knowing some things about him as a person and a player."
Now comes the unknown - at one point will the 2020-21 WHL season begin?
Oct. 2 is a floating date and training camp will start no sooner than mid-September.
"Our goal is to play a full 68-game schedule with the regular season running into April and the playoffs into June," said Sutter. "But we need to sort everything out and work with health officials in the four provinces and Washington State and Oregon."
With Finnish defenceman Christoffer Sedoff slated to return to the team for a second WHL season, the Rebels made just one pick in the two-round import draft.
Western Hockey League Stories from June 30, 2020
- Jiri Patera Signs 3-Year, Entry-Level Contract with Vegas Golden Knights - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Broncos Add Forward and Defenceman in CHL Import Draft - Swift Current Broncos
- T-Birds Select Samuel Knazko in First Round of CHL Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Blades Select Budding Star Brad Lambert in CHL Import Draft - Saskatoon Blades
- Americans Select Goaltender, Defenseman in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
- Wheat Kings Draft Russian Defenceman in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Hitmen Select Two Players in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- WHL Clubs Select 25 Players from Eight Nations in 2020 CHL Import Draft - WHL
- Rebels Select Promising Czech Winger in CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
- Oil Kings Select Janis Svanenbergs in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars Draft Finnish Forward in CHL Import Draft - Prince George Cougars
- Broncos Add Forward and Defenceman in CHL Import Draft - Swift Current Broncos
- Blazers Select Defenseman Viktor Persson in CHL Import Draft - Kamloops Blazers
- Chiefs Select Defenseman David Jiricek in CHL Import Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- Raiders Select Shyla in CHL Import Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
- Tigers Select Oskari Kuntonen in CHL Import Draft - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hurricanes Select Nikita Chibrikov in CHL Import Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Rockets Select Krutil In Import Draft - Kelowna Rockets
- Giants Select Slovakian Defenceman Marko Stacha with 90th Overall Pick in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Vancouver Giants
- Winnipeg Ice Select Henri Nikkanen and Eugen Rabcan in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Winnipeg Ice
- Giants Select Swedish Forward Fabian Lysell 30th Overall in the 2020 CHL Import Draft - Vancouver Giants
- Warriors Select Rysavy in 2020 CHL Import Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Royals Select Marcus Almquist in CHL Import Draft - Victoria Royals
- Broncos Acquire Draft Pick from Victoria - Swift Current Broncos
- Pats Select Stanislav Svozil 15th Overall in 2020 Import Draft - Regina Pats
- Royals Make Trade with Broncos - Victoria Royals
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.
