WHL Clubs Select 30 Players from Eight Nations in 2019 CHL Import Draft
Published on June 27, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Calgary, Alta. - The Western Hockey League announced today that 30 players were selected from eight different nations by WHL Clubs as the 2019 CHL Import Draft was completed.
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 2018-19 regular season. All CHL Clubs are permitted to carry two import players on their roster each season.
The Swift Current Broncos held the top selection of all WHL Clubs, using the first overall pick to claim Finnish defenceman Kasper Puutio (2002) of Karpat Oulu B U18/U20. The 5-foot-11, 176-pound rear guard registered 16 points (5G-11A) in 41 combined games with both teams, helping the U20 side capture a Championship in the Junior A SM-Liiga during the 2018-19 season. Puutio won a silver medal with Finland at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
With the fourth selection, the Winnipeg ICE were the second WHL Club to select a player, choosing Czech left winger Michal Teply (2001) of Liberec HV Bili Tygri. The 6-foot-3, 187-pound left winger was recently selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fourth round, 105th overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft. In eight games with Liberec's U19 team, Teply recorded nine points (4G-5A), adding six points (2G-4A) in four playoff games. At the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Teply helped his country win a bronze medal.
The Regina Pats selected Russian forward Daniil Gushchin (2002) seventh overall. The 5-foot-8, 161-pound right winger played the 2018-19 season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, recording 36 points (16G-20A) in 51 games. On the international stage, Gushchin has won a gold medal at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, a silver medal at the 2019 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, and a bronze medal at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Through 18 combined games in those three tournaments, Gushchin recorded 14 points (8G-6A).
Rounding out four selections from WHL Clubs in the Top 10 were the Prince George Cougars. They landed Czech forward Filip Koffer (2001) from Pardubice Jr. with the 10th selection. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound right winger played the majority of the season with HC Dynamo Pardubice U19, recording 38 points (10G-28A) in 34 games. Koffer, like Teply, was on the Czech Republic's team for the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, winning a bronze medal.
Of the 30 players selected, the breakdown features 19 forwards, nine defencemen, and two goaltenders. All 22 WHL member Clubs selected a player in the first round while eight teams made another selection in the second round.
The 2019 CHL Import Draft also saw WHL Clubs select four NHL-drafted players, including the aforementioned Blackhawks' forward prospect Teply (2001, Czech Republic; 105th, fourth round - 2019 NHL Draft) by the ICE, Vegas Golden Knights forward prospect Marcus Kallionkieli (2001, Finland; 139th, fifth round - 2019 NHL Draft) by the Brandon Wheat Kings, Los Angeles Kings goaltending prospect Lukas Parik (2001, Czech Republic; 87th, third round - 2019 NHL Draft) by the Spokane Chiefs, and Minnesota Wild forward prospect Vladislav Firstov (2001, Russia; 42nd, second round - 2019 NHL Draft) by the Wheat Kings.
Complete results from the 2019 CHL Import Draft are available at http://chl.ca/draft.
2019 CHL Import Draft - WHL Selections
Round One
1. Swift Current Broncos: Kasper Puutio (RD) - Finland - 5'11" / 176 lbs. - June 3, 2002
4. Winnipeg ICE: Michal Teply (LW) - Czech Republic - 6'3" / 187 lbs. - May 27, 2001
7. Regina Pats: Daniil Gushchin (RW) - Russia - 5'8" / 161 lbs. - February 6, 2002
10. Prince George Cougars: Filip Koffer (RW) - Czech Republic - 5'10" / 165 lbs. - April 3, 2001
13. Kelowna Rockets: Pavel Novak (RW) - Czech Republic - 5'10" / 167 lbs. - April 16, 2002
16. Kamloops Blazers: Inaki Baragano (RD) - Switzerland - 5'10" / 168 lbs. - September 4, 2001
19. Seattle Thunderbirds: Tim Stutzle (RW) - Germany - 5'11" / 170 lbs. - January 15, 2002
22. Brandon Wheat Kings: Marcus Kallionkieli (LW) - Finland - 6'2" / 195 lbs. - March 20, 2001
25. Red Deer Rebels: Christoffer Sedoff (LD) - Finland - 6'0" / 184 lbs. - February 20, 2002
28. Victoria Royals: Keanu Derungs (C) - Switzerland - 5'11" / 161 lbs. - April 27, 2002
31. Tri-City Americans: Jan Cikhart (LW) - Czech Republic - 6'3" / 187 lbs. - January 19, 2002
34. Medicine Hat Tigers: Jonathan Brinkman Andersen (LW) - Denmark - 5'11" / 165 lbs. - July 4, 2001
37. Calgary Hitmen: Jonas Peterek (LW) - Czech Republic - 6'2" / 176 lbs. - February 19, 2001
40. Portland Winterhawks: Simon Knak (RW) - Switzerland - 6'0" / 185 lbs. - January 27, 2002
43. Spokane Chiefs: Lukas Parik (G) - Czech Republic - 6'4" / 185 lbs. - March 15, 2001
46. Moose Jaw Warriors: Jesper Wallstedt (G) - Sweden - 6'3" / 205 lbs. - November 14, 2002
49. Lethbridge Hurricanes: Oliver Okuliar (LW) - Slovakia - 6'0" / 177 lbs. - May 24, 2000
52. Edmonton Oil Kings: Jesse Seppala (LW) - Finland - 5'7" / 134 lbs. - January 7, 2002
55. Saskatoon Blades: Libor Zabransky (RD) - Czech Republic - 6'1" / 193 lbs. - May 26, 2000
57. Everett Silvertips: Michal Gut (C) - Czech Republic - 5'11" / 174 lbs. - August 16, 2002
59. Vancouver Giants: Samuel Knazko (LD) - Slovakia - 6'0" / 170 lbs. - August 7, 2002
60. Prince Albert Raiders: Ivan Kechkin (F) - Russia - 5'7" / 143 lbs. - June 19, 2002
Round Two
64. Winnipeg ICE: Nino Kinder (LW) - Germany - 6'0" / 165 lbs. - February 22, 2001
73. Kelowna Rockets: Daniil Gutik (RW) - Russia - 6'3" / 179 lbs. - August 31, 2001
82. Brandon Wheat Kings: Vladislav Firstov (LW) - Russia - 6'1" / 181 lbs. - June 19, 2001
91. Tri-City Americans: David Homola (LD) - Czech Republic - 6'0" / 169 lbs. - October 4, 2001
97. Calgary Hitmen: Samuel Krajc (RW) - Slovakia - 5'11" / 180 lbs. - February 6, 2002
100. Portland Winterhawks: Jonas Brondberg (LD) - Denmark - 6'4" / 183 lbs. - January 25, 2001
103. Spokane Chiefs: Matvei Startsev (D) - Russia - 5'8" / 132 lbs. - September 4, 2002
115. Saskatoon Blades: Radek Kucerik (LD) - Czech Republic - 6'3" / 209 lbs. - December 21, 2001
WHL Selections by Country
Czech Republic - 10
Russia - 5
Finland - 4
Slovakia - 3
Switzerland - 3
Denmark - 2
Germany - 2
Sweden - 1
Western Hockey League Stories from June 27, 2019
- Silvertips Select Center Michal Gut of the Czech Republic in the 2019 CHL Import Draft at 57th Overall - Everett Silvertips
- Americans Take Two in CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
- Rebels Select Puck-Moving Finnish Defenceman in CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
- Pats Ink Goaltender Matthew Kieper - Regina Pats
- Season Tickets on Sale Now - Medicine Hat Tigers
- WHL Clubs Select 30 Players from Eight Nations in 2019 CHL Import Draft - WHL
- Jarvis Invited to Hockey Canada Selection Camp - Portland Winterhawks
- Winterhawks Pick up Two at Import Draft - Portland Winterhawks
- Blazers Sign Dylan Ernst and Tye Spencer - Kamloops Blazers
- Hitmen Select Two Players in 2019 CHL Import Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- Blades Make Two Selections in 2019 Import Draft - Saskatoon Blades
- Rockets select Novak and Gutik at 2019 CHL Import Draft - Kelowna Rockets
- T-Birds Select Right Wing Tim Stutzle in CHL Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Wheat Kings Select Two at 2019 CHL Import Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Hurricanes Select Okuliar in CHL Import Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Spokane Takes Russian Defenseman Startsev with 103rd Overall Import Pick - Spokane Chiefs
- Winnipeg ICE Select Michal Teply, Nino Kinder Fourth and 64th Overall Respectively in 2019 CHL Import Draft - Winnipeg Ice
- Giants Select 2002-Born Defenceman Samuel Knazko in CHL Import Draft - Vancouver Giants
- Oil Kings Select Seppala in 2019 CHL Import Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars Select Czech Forward in CHL Import Draft - Prince George Cougars
- Raiders Select Kechkin in CHL Import Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
- Tigers Select Brinkman Andersen in CHL Import Draft - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Pick Los Angeles Kings Prospect Lukas Parik in Import Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- Swift Current Broncos Select Finnish Defenceman Kasper Puutio with 1st Pick in CHL Draft - Swift Current Broncos
- Dave Chyzowski to Join Delta Hockey Academy - Kamloops Blazers
- Blazers Select Defenseman Inaki Baragano in the CHL Import Draft - Kamloops Blazers
- Royals Select Keanu Derungs in CHL Import Draft - Victoria Royals
- Pats Take Daniil Gushchin Seventh Overall in 2019 CHL Import Draft - Regina Pats
- We Have an Early Bird Grand Prize Winner - Brandon Wheat Kings
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