Winterhawks Pick up Two at Import Draft
June 27, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
The Portland Winterhawks made two selections in this year's CHL Import Draft to help round out their protected 2019-20 roster heading into training camp. With the picks, the Winterhawks drafted forward Simon Knak and defenseman Jonas Brøndberg.
With the 40th overall pick in the 2019 CHL Import Draft, the Winterhawks selected Swiss native Simon Knak from Kloten EHC's junior team. The 2002-born right winger is already being recognized as a top-end prospect for the 2020 NHL Draft as he put up 14 goals and 11 assists for 25 points in 37 games as a 17 year old playing in the under-20 league. In the playoffs, Knak scored four goals and four assists in six games.
Knak (6-0, 185-pounds) captained the Swiss under-18 team and he competed in the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup as an underage forward, scoring twice in four tournament games. He was named a Top 3 Player for Switzerland through international play.
The Winterhawks historically have had success with players from Switzerland thanks to forwards like Sven Bärtschi (Bern, SUI) and Nino Niederreiter (Chur, SUI).
With the second selection of the 2019 CHL Import Draft, the Winterhawks went to Denmark to draft 2001-born defenseman Jonas Brøndberg.
Brøndberg (6-4, 183-pounds) captained the Danish under-18 team and captured a bronze medal this past season at the Division 1 Group A World Junior Championships. The defenseman led his team with three assists in five tournament games.
Playing for the Växjö Lakers under-18 and under-20 teams this past season, Brøndberg tallied three goals and seven assists in 49 games. He spent the majority of the year playing up in the older age bracket. The Växjö Lakers organization recently helped develop Calder Trophy winner Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks) through their professional team.
The Winterhawks have also done an exceptional job at scouting Danes over the years, including WHL Players of the Year Joachim Blichfeld and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
In conjunction with these two picks, the Winterhawks have released forward Michal Kvasnica.
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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