Winterhawks Select Two Players in CHL Import Draft

June 28, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release

The Portland Winterhawks made two selections in the 2018 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft today, taking Swiss center Dean Schwenninger in the first round and forward Michal Kvasnica in the second round.

Schwenninger, a young, skilled forward born in Zurich, Switzerland, had 13 goals and 37 points in 19 games playing as a 16-year-old center with the Zug U17 in the Elite Novizen. The 5'7" center also played 20 games with the Zug U20 in the Elite Jr. A league in Switzerland, where he recorded five goals and eight points.

The 2001-born Schwenninger represented Switzerland at U17 International Junior level, where he recorded five goals and nine points in 15 games.

Schwenninger will be eligible for the NHL Entry Draft for the first time in 2019.

Kvasnica, a strong skating winger from Brno, Czech Republic, registered six goals and 16 points in 45 games as a 17-year-old with HC Frydek-Mistek in Czech2. The 2000-born, 6'1" forward represented the Czech Republic at the 2018 World Under-18 Junior Championship. In seven games at the tournament, he recorded two goals and four points.

At the 2018 U18 5 Nations Tournament, the Czech forward had two goals in four games. Kvasnica also won a Silver Medal at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament with the Czech Republic 2017, where he recorded one goal in five games.

Kvasnica was ranked 40th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting heading into the 2018 NHL Draft.

The Winterhawks begin their 2018-19 home schedule on September 29th versus the Seattle Thunderbirds. Season tickets and packages are on sale now, visit winterhawks.com/tickets for full details on pricing and availability.

Western Hockey League Stories from June 28, 2018

• Hitmen Announce Radio Broadcast Schedule - Calgary Hitmen
• Silvertips Select Forward Peter Melcher of Slovakia in the 2018 CHL Import Draft - Everett Silvertips
• T-Birds Select Andrej Kukuca and Simon Kubicek in CHL Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Rockets Select RD Lassi Thomson in CHL Import Draft - Kelowna Rockets
• Red Deer Rebels Take Two Players In CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• CHL Import Draft Recap - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Kiviniemi and Pynnonen Selected by Broncos at 2018 CHL Import - Swift Current Broncos
• Blazers Select Martin Lang and Joonas Sillanpaa in 2018 CHL Import Draft - Kamloops Blazers
• Americans Select Krystof Hrabik in 2018 CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
• WHL Clubs Select 31 Players from Nine Nations in 2018 CHL Import Draft - WHL
• Michael Dyck Named Head Coach of the Vancouver Giants - Vancouver Giants
• Red Deer Rebels Take Two Players in CHL Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• Wheat Kings Select Brannstrom, Patera in CHL Import Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Winterhawks Select Two Players in CHL Import Draft - Portland Winterhawks
• Blades Add Two Players in CHL Import Draft - Saskatoon Blades
• Pats Announce Hockey Operations Changes - Regina Pats
• Chiefs Select Russian Defenseman Yegor Arbuzov in CHL Import Draft - Spokane Chiefs
• Oil Kings Select Alistrov Second Overall in 2018 CHL Import Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Warriors Complete CHL Import Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Cougars Select Czech Forward in CHL Import Draft - Prince George Cougars
• Hurricanes Select Goaltender, Defenseman in CHL Import Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Pats Take Sergei Alkhimov & Nikita Sedov in CHL Import Draft - Regina Pats
• Raiders Select Protas in CHL Import Draft - Prince Albert Raiders
• Royals Select Phillip Schultz in CHL Import Draft - Victoria Royals
• ICE Select Defenceman Valtteri Kakkonen in CHL Import Draft - Kootenay Ice
• Vancouver Giants to Pass on Both Selections in the 2018 CHL Import Draft - Vancouver Giants

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Portland Winterhawks Stories

• Hawks in the Community - July 2025
• McSweeney's WHL Community Collective: Portland Winterhawks
• WCPHS Foundation Recognizes Bennett, Holland, Benning, and Vrooman
• Jordin St. Louis Invited to Canada's U17 Development Camp
• Mike Johnston Named to Canada's Program of Excellence Management Group