Western Hockey League clubs selected 29 players as the 2013 CHL Import Draft was held on Wednesday, July 3rd.
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 2012-13 season. Each team in the CHL is permitted to carry two European import players each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.
The Vancouver Giants held the first overall pick in the 2013 CHL Import Draft, selecting defenceman Dmitri Osipov from Moscow, Russia. The 6’1”, 179-lb rearguard was also the first overall pick in the 2013 Kontinental Hockey League Junior draft.
The Prince George Cougars used the fourth overall selection to grab 18-year-old forward David Soltes of Kosice, Slovakia. Soltes is a right-handed shooting winger who scored 13 goals, 16 points and 60 penalty minutes in 19 games with Hockey Club Kosice U-20.
The Brandon Wheat Kings held the seventh overall selection, which they used to pick Latvian winger Rihards Bukarts. The 17-year-old scored eighteen goals and 35 points in 62 games with HK Riga during the 2012-13 season.
The Everett Silvertips were the fourth WHL Club to pick among the Top 10, selecting Finnish winger Waltteri Hopponen. The 17-year-old netted five goals and eight points in 18 games for the Espoo Blues Under-20 team last season.
All but two WHL clubs selected at least one player in the 2013 CHL Import Draft. The Seattle Thunderbirds and Red Deer Rebels did not participate.
2013 CHL Import Draft Results
ROUND 1 (Pick #; WHL Club; Name; Pos; Birthplace; DOB)
1. Vancouver Giants; Dmitri Osipov; D; Moscow, RUS; April 10, 1996
4. Prince George Cougars; David Soltes; RW; Kosice, SVK; February 5, 1995
7. Brandon Wheat Kings; Rihards Bukarts; LW; Jurmala, LAT; December 31, 1995
10. Everett Silvertips; Waltteri Hopponen; LW; Espoo, FIN; February 4, 1996
16. Regina Pats; Dmitry Sinitsyn; D; Moscow, RUS; June 17, 1994
19. Moose Jaw Warriors; Alexey Sleptsov; D; Russia; February 1, 1996
22. Lethbridge Hurricanes; Kristian Khenkel; D; Belarus; November 7, 1995
25. Kootenay Ice; Rinat Valiev; D; Nizhnekamsk, RUS; May 11, 1995
28. Medicine Hat Tigers; Markus Eisenschmid; C; Marktoberdorf, GER; January 22, 1995
31. Victoria Royals; Jiri Fronk; LW; Chomutov, CZE; February 17, 1994
34. Swift Current Broncos; Julius Honka; D; Jyvaskyla, FIN; December 3, 1995
37. Prince Albert Raiders; Tomas Andrlik; D; Plzen, CZE; October 6, 1995
43. Tri-City Americans; Jakub Illes; C; Vitkovice, SVK; December 15, 1995
46. Spokane Chiefs; Adam Hascic; LWTrencin, SVK; October 28, 1996
49. Saskatoon Blades; David Nemecek; D; Plzenec, CZE; June 29, 1995
52. Calgary Hitmen; Radel Fazleyev; C; Kazan, RUS; January 7, 1996
55. Kamloops Blazers; Edson Harlacher; D; Switzerland; January 22, 1996
57. Edmonton Oil Kings; Mads Eller; LW; Rodover, DEN; June 25, 1995
59. Kelowna Rockets; Kris Schmidli; C; Switzerland; July 3, 1996
60. Portland Winterhawks; Anton Cederholm; D; Helsingborg, SWE; February 21, 1995
ROUND 2
61. Vancouver Giants; Andreas Eder; C; Bad Tolz, GER; March 20, 1996
64. Prince George Cougars; Martin Bobos; D; Kosice, SVK; January 19, 1995
70. Everett Silvertips; Ivan Nikolishin; LW; Moscow, RUS; April12, 1996
76. Regina Pats; Maximillian Kammerer; LW; Bad Tolz, GER; September 28, 1996
79. Moose Jaw Warriors; Alexander Chirva; LW; Moscow, RUS; March 25, 1996
85. Kootenay Ice; Artturi Lehkonen; LW; Piikkio, FIN; July 4, 1995
94. Swift Current Broncos; Igor Leonenko; LW; Santa Cruz, CA; February 8, 1995
106. Spokane Chiefs; Dominic Zwerger; LW; Austria; July 16, 1996
109. Saskatoon Blades; Nikita Sherbak; LW; Russia; December 30, 1995
For the complete 2013 CHL Import Draft results, CLICK HERE
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 2012-13 season. Each team in the CHL is permitted to carry two European import players each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.
The Vancouver Giants held the first overall pick in the 2013 CHL Import Draft, selecting defenceman Dmitri Osipov from Moscow, Russia. The 6’1”, 179-lb rearguard was also the first overall pick in the 2013 Kontinental Hockey League Junior draft.
The Prince George Cougars used the fourth overall selection to grab 18-year-old forward David Soltes of Kosice, Slovakia. Soltes is a right-handed shooting winger who scored 13 goals, 16 points and 60 penalty minutes in 19 games with Hockey Club Kosice U-20.
The Brandon Wheat Kings held the seventh overall selection, which they used to pick Latvian winger Rihards Bukarts. The 17-year-old scored eighteen goals and 35 points in 62 games with HK Riga during the 2012-13 season.
The Everett Silvertips were the fourth WHL Club to pick among the Top 10, selecting Finnish winger Waltteri Hopponen. The 17-year-old netted five goals and eight points in 18 games for the Espoo Blues Under-20 team last season.
All but two WHL clubs selected at least one player in the 2013 CHL Import Draft. The Seattle Thunderbirds and Red Deer Rebels did not participate.
2013 CHL Import Draft Results
ROUND 1 (Pick #; WHL Club; Name; Pos; Birthplace; DOB)
1. Vancouver Giants; Dmitri Osipov; D; Moscow, RUS; April 10, 1996
4. Prince George Cougars; David Soltes; RW; Kosice, SVK; February 5, 1995
7. Brandon Wheat Kings; Rihards Bukarts; LW; Jurmala, LAT; December 31, 1995
10. Everett Silvertips; Waltteri Hopponen; LW; Espoo, FIN; February 4, 1996
16. Regina Pats; Dmitry Sinitsyn; D; Moscow, RUS; June 17, 1994
19. Moose Jaw Warriors; Alexey Sleptsov; D; Russia; February 1, 1996
22. Lethbridge Hurricanes; Kristian Khenkel; D; Belarus; November 7, 1995
25. Kootenay Ice; Rinat Valiev; D; Nizhnekamsk, RUS; May 11, 1995
28. Medicine Hat Tigers; Markus Eisenschmid; C; Marktoberdorf, GER; January 22, 1995
31. Victoria Royals; Jiri Fronk; LW; Chomutov, CZE; February 17, 1994
34. Swift Current Broncos; Julius Honka; D; Jyvaskyla, FIN; December 3, 1995
37. Prince Albert Raiders; Tomas Andrlik; D; Plzen, CZE; October 6, 1995
43. Tri-City Americans; Jakub Illes; C; Vitkovice, SVK; December 15, 1995
46. Spokane Chiefs; Adam Hascic; LWTrencin, SVK; October 28, 1996
49. Saskatoon Blades; David Nemecek; D; Plzenec, CZE; June 29, 1995
52. Calgary Hitmen; Radel Fazleyev; C; Kazan, RUS; January 7, 1996
55. Kamloops Blazers; Edson Harlacher; D; Switzerland; January 22, 1996
57. Edmonton Oil Kings; Mads Eller; LW; Rodover, DEN; June 25, 1995
59. Kelowna Rockets; Kris Schmidli; C; Switzerland; July 3, 1996
60. Portland Winterhawks; Anton Cederholm; D; Helsingborg, SWE; February 21, 1995
ROUND 2
61. Vancouver Giants; Andreas Eder; C; Bad Tolz, GER; March 20, 1996
64. Prince George Cougars; Martin Bobos; D; Kosice, SVK; January 19, 1995
70. Everett Silvertips; Ivan Nikolishin; LW; Moscow, RUS; April12, 1996
76. Regina Pats; Maximillian Kammerer; LW; Bad Tolz, GER; September 28, 1996
79. Moose Jaw Warriors; Alexander Chirva; LW; Moscow, RUS; March 25, 1996
85. Kootenay Ice; Artturi Lehkonen; LW; Piikkio, FIN; July 4, 1995
94. Swift Current Broncos; Igor Leonenko; LW; Santa Cruz, CA; February 8, 1995
106. Spokane Chiefs; Dominic Zwerger; LW; Austria; July 16, 1996
109. Saskatoon Blades; Nikita Sherbak; LW; Russia; December 30, 1995
For the complete 2013 CHL Import Draft results, CLICK HERE
