WHL Clubs Select 24 Players in 2016 CHL Import Draft
June 28, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, AB - Western Hockey League clubs selected 24 players as the 2016 CHL Import Draft was held Tuesday morning.
The two-round draft took place online with the order of selection rotating through each of the CHL's three leagues using an inverse order of final regular season standings from the 2015-16 regular season. All CHL Clubs are permitted to carry two import players on their roster each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.
The Kootenay ICE held the first overall selection in this year's CHL Import Draft and used it to select Russian centre Klim Kostin out of Blashikha HC MVD. Kostin, a top prospect for the 2017 NHL Draft, captained Team Russia to a silver medal at last year's IIHF World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and also wore the 'C' for Russia at the Under-18 World Junior Championship.
The Vancouver Giants were the second WHL club to select at the fourth overall position, taking forward Filip Zadina out of the Czech Republic. Saskatoon selected Russian defenceman Mark Rubinchik with the seventh overall pick and Swift Current nabbed Finnish forward Aleksi Heponiemi 10th overall, rounding out the top-10 in the CHL Import Draft this year.
Five WHL teams (Tri-City, Prince Albert, Lethbridge, Kelowna, Victoria) did not select a player in the 2016 CHL Import Draft.
Full CHL Import Draft Results: http://chl.ca/importdraft
2016 CHL Import Draft - WHL Results
ROUND 1
1. Kootenay ICE: Klim Kostin (C); Russia; 6'3.5" / 183 lbs; May 4, 1999
4. Vancouver Giants: Filip Zadina (RW); Czech Republic; 5'11.5" / 189 lbs; November 26, 1999
7. Saskatoon Blades: Mark Rubinchik (LD); Russia; 6'1" / 183 lbs; March 20, 1999
10. Swift Current Broncos: Aleksi Heponiemi (LW); Finland; 5'9" / 139 lbs; January 8, 1999
13. Edmonton Oil Kings: Artyom Baltruk (C); Belarus; 6'2" / 190 lbs; May 3, 1999
16. Medicine Hat Tigers: Kristians Rubins (LD); Latvia; 6'4" / 216 lbs; December 10, 1997
19. Tri-City Americans: PASS
22. Spokane Chiefs: Ondrej Najman (LW); Czech Republic; 6'1" / 187 lbs; January 29, 1998
25. Portland Winterhawks: Henri Jokiharju (RD); Finland; 5'10.5" / 165 lbs; June 16, 1999
28. Prince George Cougars: Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (LW); Sweden; 6'0.5" / 169 lbs; February 9, 1998
31. Regina Pats: Filip Ahl (LW); Sweden; 6'3.5" / 214 lbs; June 11, 1997
34. Moose Jaw Warriors: Dmitry Zaitsev (LD); Russia; 6'1" / 185 lbs; January 17, 1998
37. Prince Albert Raiders: PASS
40. Everett Silvertips: Eetu Tuulola (RW); Finland; 6'1.5" / 224 lbs; March 16, 1998
43. Kamloops Blazers: Rudolfs Balcers (LW); Latvia; 5'11" / 165 lbs; April 7, 1997
46. Calgary Hitmen: Vladislav Yeryomenko (RD); Belarus; 6'0" / 176 lbs; April 22, 1999
49. Red Deer Rebels: Alexander Alexeyev (RD); Russia; 6'3" / 177 lbs; November 14, 1999
52. Seattle Thunderbirds: Sami Moilanen (RW); Finland; 5'9" / 174 lbs; January 21, 1999
55. Lethbridge Hurricanes: PASS
57. Kelowna Rockets: PASS
59. Brandon Wheat Kings: Linus Nassen (LD); Sweden; 6'0" / 174 lbs; May 9, 1998
60. Victoria Royals: PASS
ROUND 2
61. Kootenay ICE: Nikita Radzivilyuk (D); Russia; 6'1" / 187 lbs; March 8, 1999
76. Medicine Hat Tigers: John Dalstrom (LW); Sweden; 6'1" / 187 lbs; January 21, 1997
82. Spokane Chiefs: Pavel Kousal (C); Czech Republic; 5'11" / 158 lbs; November 13, 1998
85. Portland Winterhawks: Joakim Blichfeld (C); Denmark; 6'0" / 176 lbs; July 16, 1998
100. Everett Silvertips: Mario Mucka (RW); Slovakia; 5'10" / 145 lbs; November 9, 1998
106. Calgary Hitmen: Andrei Grishakov (F); Russia; 5'11" / 172 lbs; May 16, 1999
119. Brandon Wheat Kings: Daniel Bukac (RD); Czech Republic; 6'4" / 174 lbs; April 28, 1999
Players Selected by WHL Clubs by Country:
Russia - 6
Czech Republic - 4
Sweden - 4
Finland - 4
Belarus - 2
Latvia - 2
Slovakia - 1
Denmark - 1
Western Hockey League Stories from June 28, 2016
- Silvertips Select Right Wingers Eetu Tuulola of Finland and Mario Mucka of Slovakia in CHL Import Dr - Everett Silvertips
- Kubic to Attend Canucks Prospects Camp - Vancouver Giants
- T-Birds Select Sami Moilanen in CHL Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Oil Kings Select Artyom Baltruk in CHL Import Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Hitmen Select Two Players In 2016 CHL Import Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- Spokane Takes Pair of Czech Teammates in CHL Import Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- WHL Clubs Select 24 Players in 2016 CHL Import Draft - WHL
- Winterhawks Select Two Players in CHL Import Draft - Portland Winterhawks
- Red Deer Rebels Take Alexander Alexeyev In CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
- Pats Select Filip AHL in CHL Import Draft - Regina Pats
- Cougars Select Swedish Forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby 28th Overall in the 2016 CHL Import Draft - Prince George Cougars
- Blazers Select Rudolfs Balcers in CHL Import Draft - Kamloops Blazers
- Ice Select Two Russians in CHL Import Draft - Kootenay Ice
- Americans Announce 2016-17 Regular Season Schedule - Tri-City Americans
- Warriors Select Zaitsev 33rd Overall - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Blades Land Russian D-man - Saskatoon Blades
- Giants Take Zadina in CHL Import Draft - Vancouver Giants
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