Rockets Set to Make Single Pick in Import Draft

June 29, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release

The Kelowna Rockets are set to make a single selection in Friday's 31st annual Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. The draft will take place online on Friday, July 1, 2022, beginning at 9:00 am PT, the draft can be followed online on the CHL's website.

Each of the 60 CHL Clubs are permitted to make a maximum of two selections in the 2022 CHL Import Draft.

The CHL announced Tuesday the Order of Selections, Kelowna will pick 43rd overall and will only select one player-.Czechia forward Gabriel Szturc will return for the 2022-23 WHL season.

Selected 44th overall in the first round of the 2021 CHL Import Draft, Szturc posted 41 points (16G, 25A), six penalty minutes and a +12 plus/minus rating through 67 games in his first season with the Rockets.

Pavel Novak, the Rockets other European player, announced last Friday that he will be stepping away from hockey this upcoming season following a diagnosis. In his statement, Novak shared that he has been diagnosed with an oncological disease. The 2002 born forward will remain on the Rockets protected list.

The Medicine Hat Tigers hold the first-overall selection, to be followed by the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Cape Breton Eagles.

Order of Selections for 2022 CHL Import Draft

1-1

Medicine Hat

1-31

Lethbridge

2-61

Medicine Hat

2-91

Lethbridge

1-2

Saginaw

1-32

Owen Sound

2-62

Saginaw

2-92

Owen Sound

1-3

Cape Breton

1-33

Halifax

2-63

Cape Jaw

2-70

Vancouver

2-100

Moose George

1-46

Seattle

2-76

Prince George

2-106

Seattle

1-17

Peterborough

1-47

Kingston

2-77

Peterborough

2-107

Kingston

1-18

Rouyn-Noranda

1-48

Saint John

2-78

Rouyn-Noranda

2-108

Saint John

1-19

Calgary

1-49

Red Deer

2-79

Calgary

2-109

Red Deer

1-20

Ottawa

1-50

Flint

2-80

Ottawa

2-110

Flint

1-21

Moncton

1-51

Charlottetown

2-81

Moncton

2-111

Charlottetown

1-22

Swift Current

1-52

Portland

2-82

Swift Current

2-112

Portland

1-23

Oshawa

1-53

North Bay

2-83

Oshawa

2-113

North Albert

1-58

Hamilton

2-88

Prince Albert

2-118

Hamilton

1-29

Barrie

1-59

Edmonton

2-89

Barrie

2-119

Edmonton

1-30

Rimouski

1-60

Winnipeg

2-90

Rimouski

2-120

Winnipeg

Kelowna Rockets forward Gabriel Szturc (Steve Dunsmoor)

Western Hockey League Stories from June 29, 2022

• Chiefs Sign Second-Round Pick Owen Martin and Third-Round Pick Hayden Paupanekis - Spokane Chiefs
• Rockets Set to Make Single Pick in Import Draft - Kelowna Rockets
• Chiefs Sign Third-Round WHL Pick Hayden Paupanekis - Spokane Chiefs
• Winterhawks to Select One Player at 2022 CHL Import Draft - Portland Winterhawks
• Hurricanes Sign Defenseman Kaden Phillips - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• 'It's Such an Honour': Yager Humbled by National Award - Moose Jaw Warriors

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.

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