QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs Select Czech Defenceman, Russian Forward in CHL Import Draft

Published on July 2, 2014 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs have added a defenceman and forward in the 2014 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, conducted today.

Jakub Zboril, 17, was selected fifth overall. The 6'1", 187-lb. blueliner from Brno spent most of last season with HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Under-20 hockey league, registering five goals and 21 points in 36 games. He also had three assists in seven games for silver-medal-winning Team Czech Republic at the IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championships in Finland in April.

Zboril suited up for his country in the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament (four games, two points) in Slovakia and the 2013 World Junior 'A' Challenge (four games, one goal) in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

"Jakub can do it all - offence and defence," said Sea Dogs General Manager Darrell Young. "He's got a lot of experience for a player his age. He's highly-rated for next year's NHL Draft. We see him as a player who can step in and be a top-four blueliner right away.

"With Zboril joining returnees Olivier LeBlanc and Thomas Chabot, we feel like the left side of our defence is set for the next 3-4 years."

Nikita Lee (alternate spelling, "Li"), also 17, was taken with the Sea Dogs' second pick, 65th overall. Listed at 6'1", 180 lbs., he spent last season with Russia's Moscow Spartak Under-18 team. Lee was also selected by Moscow Spartak in the first round (11th overall) in the 2014 Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) Draft.

"Nikita is a highly-skilled, left-shooting right winger," Young said. "We wanted to add someone with offensive ability to our stable of young forwards, and he understands the offensive side. He's also familiar with the North American game, having played with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Junior Knights program in Pennsylvania four years ago. He speaks perfect English - that's a huge factor for us."

Both players are expected to join the club in time for training camp in August.

Season tickets are on sale now at the Harbour Station box office and the Sea Dogs' office on the pedway level of Harbour Station. Season ticket holders can SAVE up to $170 on their seats when compared with single-game box office prices.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from July 2, 2014


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