Wheaties Move Up to Take Finn

June 30, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release

Toronto, Ontario -- The Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings have selected  18-year old Finnish born right-winger Toni Rajala with the fourteenth overall pick in Tuesday's Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.A fourth round draft choice (101st overall) of the Edmonton Oilers in Saturday's National Hockey League Entry Draft, the 5'10" 163 lb Rajala scored fourteen goals and 31 points in 31 games for the Ilves Tampere Juniors in 2009-10.Brandon's second and final pick will come later today as the Wheat Kings currently own the 113th selection.The Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League had the first overall pick and opted for Russian Stanislav Galiev. Moose Jaw meanwhile had the top pick of any WHL club and used the second overall selection to grab Swiss forward Nino Niederreiter.The 2008 CHL Import Draft featured players such as Dmitry Kulikov of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, picked second overall, who captured prestigious honours in the QMJHL this season including Rookie of the Year and Defenceman of the Year awards.  He was also selected by the Florida Panthers with the 14th overall pick at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  Other players such as Andrei Loktionov of the OHL and Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires as well as the OHL Rookie of the Year Evgeny Grachev of the Brampton Battalion were selected last season.  The 2007 Import Draft featured players such as Mikael Backlund of the WHL Champion Kelowna Rockets.The 2009 CHL Import Draft order of selection as well as up to date picks on Tuesday June 30 can be followed online at http://chl.ca/importDraft.php.  Please also visit the draft site for historical recaps of the past five CHL Import Drafts.

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Western Hockey League Stories from June 30, 2009

• Tigers Select Danish D-Man in CHL Import Draft - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Red Deer Rebels Select Jindra Barak In The CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• Import Draft Selection - Vancouver Giants
• Americans Select Goaltender, Forward in 2009 CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
• Calgary Hitmen Select Finnish Forward In 2009 CHL Import Draft - Calgary Hitmen
• Pats Select Poletin - Regina Pats
• Americans Select Goaltender in 2009 CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
• Chiefs Take Forward from the Czech Republic - Spokane Chiefs
• Warriors Select Herman 53rd Overall - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Blades Select Gustafsson in CHL Import Draft - Saskatoon Blades
• Kelowna Rockets Make CHL Import Selection - Kelowna Rockets
• Broncos Select Flames Draft Pick in Import Draft - Swift Current Broncos
• Rich Preston named General Manager and Head Coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Hurricanes draft Kolppanen in 2009 CHL Import Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Rebels Swap Picks With Brandon; Acquire Nathan Green - Red Deer Rebels
• Red Deer Rebels Select John Persson In The CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• T-Birds Take Rusian Foward in CHL Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Ice Select Defensemen in CHl Import Draft - Kootenay Ice
• Weaties Take Two in CHL Import Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Raiders Select Right Winger Fredrik Cedergren of Sweden in 2009 CHL Import Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
• Wheaties Move Up to Take Finn - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Bruins Nab Czech Center in Import Draft - Chilliwack Bruins
• Cougars Select Jaroslav Vlach - Prince George Cougars
• Warriors Select Honejsek - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Erb To Become A Bison - Brandon Wheat Kings

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