Mooseheads pick Swiss forward Ponzetto
2023-07-05
Your Halifax Mooseheads have once again added a player from the country of Switzerland via the CHL Import Draft. General Manager Cam Russell used his first round pick (44th overall) on Wednesday to select 6-foot-1, 165 pound forward Yannik Ponzetto who played at both the U17 and U20 level with Kloten Elit last season.
“We were happy to be able to get Yannik at that spot. He’s a big, skilled winger who will be able to immediately step in and play,” Russell said.
Ponzetto is committed to coming to Halifax and will join the likes of Attilio Biasca, Nico Hichier and Timo Meier as Swiss forwards who have played major roles in recent years with the Mooseheads. The 17-year-old scored 26 goals and added 26 assists in 34 games played for Kloten U17 last season. His 52 points were the most in the entire Swiss U17 league. He also led the league in playoff scoring with 20 points on 10 goals and 10 assists in nine games. Ponzetto later notched three goals in eight games at the U20 level. He is a left-handed shot and primarily plays as a left winger.
Six teams ahead of Halifax passed on their picks to move the Herd up from 50th overall to 44th. The Mooseheads passed on their second round selection and Russell has confirmed that Czech defenceman David Moravec will return to the team to fill the other import roster spot while also occupying one of the three available 20-year-old overage positions. Former Captain Attilio Biasca will play professionally in his hometown of Zug, Switzerland next season.
Ponzetto will join the Mooseheads when training camp opens in late August at the RBC Centre in Dartmouth.
