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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Select Two Players in CHL Import Draft

June 30, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The Portland Winterhawks selected two players in the 2015 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft Tuesday: Latvian center Rodrigo Abols, and Swedish center Carl Ericson.

Abols, who will be entering his 19-year-old season in 2015-16, was selected by Portland in the first round with the 50th pick. Last season with HK Riga of the Molodezhnaya Hockey League he posted 20 goals and 18 assists for 38 points in 35 games. He also suited up for Dinamo Riga of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, where he had a goal and four assists for five points in 15 games.

Abols has also represented his native Latvia numerous times in international play, including the 2015 World Championship, where he played against NHL stars like Sidney Crosby, Claude Giroux and Evgeni Malkin.

Ericson, also entering his 19-year-old season, was taken in the second round with the 110th pick. He played for Leksand J20 of the Swedish SuperElit League last season where he had 16 goals and 26 assists for 42 points in 43 games. He also suited up in 11 games for Leksand's professional team in the Swedish Hockey League.

"From the reports we have on these two players, Rodrigo and Carl are skilled and mature players who should be able to impact our lineup immediately," said Portland Winterhawks General Manager & Head Coach Jamie Kompon. "We look forward to both of them joining the Portland Winterhawks organization next year."

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 within each league from the 2014-15 season. Each team in the CHL is permitted to dress and play a maximum of two import players each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.

Premier membership season tickets for the 2015-16 season are on sale now and start at only $42 per month and include playoffs. Visit winterhawks.com or call 503-236-HAWK to reserve the best seat locations.

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Western Hockey League Stories from June 30, 2015


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