The Canadian Hockey League today announced details for the 28th annual CHL Import Draft which takes place on Thursday June 27, 2019, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.
The two-round draft will take 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 2018-19 season. The Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos hold the number one pick, followed by the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan who will select third overall. 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.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW THE 2019 CHL IMPORT DRAFT ORDER AND RESULTS
A total of 12 players acquired through the CHL Import Draft were recently selected in the 2019 NHL Draft led by Finnish defenceman Lassi Thomson of the Kelowna Rockets chosen 19th overall by the Ottawa Senators. Second round NHL Draft picks from the CHL Import Draft included Danish goaltender Mads Sogaard of the Medicine Hat Tigers (37th to Ottawa), Russian defenceman Artemi Kniazev of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens (48th to San Jose), Belarusian defenceman Vladislav Kolyachonok of the Flint Firebirds (52nd to Florida), Russian defenceman Nikita Okhotyuk of the Ottawa 67’s (61st to New Jersey), and Germany born forward Nikita Alexandrov of the Charlottetown Islanders (62nd to St. Louis).
Last season a total of 77 players were selected from 12 different countries led by 16 players from the Czech Republic and consisting of 47 forwards, 23 defencemen, and seven goaltenders.