T-Birds Select Alessandro Segafredo and Leon Okonkwo Prada in 2021 CHL Import Draft
June 30, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT - The Seattle Thunderbirds selected right wing Alessandro Segafredo from Italy and defenseman Leon Okonkwo Prada from Great Britain in the 2021 CHL Import Draft held this morning.
"We think both Alessandro and Leon will have a good opportunity to come in and help our team moving forward. Both players complement the group we have in place and we are looking forward to having them join us," said general manager Bil La Forge.
Segafredo was selected in the first round, 41st overall. Segafredo played 26 games for the ZSC Lions U17 team last season and had 25 goals and 27 assists for 52 points to lead the team in scoring. Segafredo also played 24 games for the GCK Lions U20 team and had 10 goals and one assist for 11 points.
Segafredo was born September 15, 2004, and is eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft.
"Alessandro shoots the puck really well and has an offensive mindset," said La Forge. "I like the fact he has scored goals wherever he has played."
Okonkwo Prada was selected in the second round, 86th overall. Last season Okonkwo Prada played eight games with the Rogle J18 team in Sweden and had one goal and six assists for seven points.ÃÂ
Okonkwo Prada was born July 7, 2003, and is eligible for the 2021 NHL Draft.
"Leon complements our existing defense corps. He plays hard in his own end and is not afraid to get his nose dirty," said La Forge. "We looked closely at Leon for last year's Import Draft and he is a player whose development we have monitored."
Previous selections by the T-Birds in the Import Draft include Andrej Kukuca (2018), Simon Kubicek (2018), Sami Moilanen (2016), Alexander True (2014), Alexander Delnov (2012), and Roberts Lipsbergs (2012).
Every CHL team is allowed a maximum of two non-North American players on their roster each season. These players must be drafted in the CHL Import Draft held each summer to be eligible to play.
Teams are permitted to select in the Import Draft if they have less than two import players on their current roster.
The two-round draft took place online with the order of selection rotating through each of the CHL's three leagues.
The 2021-22 regular season schedule was announced on Wednesday, June 23.
The T-Birds start the 2021-22 Western Hockey League regular season against the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday, October 2, at 6:00pm at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Home Opener is Saturday, October 9, against the Winterhawks at 6:05pm at accesso ShoWare Center.
T-Birds single game tickets for the 2021-22 regular season will go on sale on a date close to Labor Day online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.
T-Birds season tickets for the 2021-22 regular season are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
Western Hockey League Stories from June 30, 2021
- Silvertips Select RW Niko Huuhtanen of Finland, Second Overall in the 2021 CHL Import Draft - Everett Silvertips
- Kamloops Blazers Statement on President & COO, Don Moores - Kamloops Blazers
- Blades Add Two European Forwards in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Saskatoon Blades
- Bocharov to Represent USA at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup - Saskatoon Blades
- Americans Select Moravec in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
- Hitmen Select Two Players in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- WHL Clubs Select 32 Players from 12 Countries in 2021 CHL Import Draft - WHL
- Cougars Select Two Players in CHL Import Draft - Prince George Cougars
- T-Birds Select Alessandro Segafredo and Leon Okonkwo Prada in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Broncos Add Forward and Defenceman in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Select Two in 2021 Import Draft - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Rebels' Import Draft Selection Has Excelled While Competing against Older Players - Red Deer Rebels
- Chiefs Make Two Picks in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- Mallette Inks Extension - Kelowna Rockets
- Victoria Royals Select Sebastian Wraneschitz in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Victoria Royals
- Hurricanes Select Pair of Forwards in CHL Import Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Winnipeg ICE Bolster Defence in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Winnipeg Ice
- Wheat Kings Select Forward from Belarus - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Roman Makarov Selected by Blazers in CHL Import Draft - Kamloops Blazers
- Rebels Select Frantisek Formanek in Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
- Pats Pick Kemell 32nd in CHL Import Draft, Suzdalev 95th Overall - Regina Pats
- Rockets Select Szturc In Import Draft - Kelowna Rockets
- Warriors Select Robert Baco in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Winterhawks Select Defenseman Marek Alscher in CHL Import Draft - Portland Winterhawks
- Oil Kings Select Jakub Demek in CHL Import Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Giants Select Golden Knights Prospect Jesper Vikman in the 2021 CHL Import Draft - Vancouver Giants
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