Battalion selects Czech forward in Import Draft

BRAMPTON, Ont. – The newest member of the Battalion organization is forward Kamil Kreps of the Czech Republic, who was chosen by Head Coach and General Manager Stan Butler with the fifth overall pick in the CHL’s annual Import Draft on Wednesday morning.
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Kreps, a 16-year-old from Litvinov, played for the Czech Republic in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Nova Scotia last season. During that tournament he competed against Team Ontario, which included Battalion members Brad Topping and Adam Henrich.
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The 6´1", 184-pound centre was acquired by the Battalion as a result of a trade with the Oshawa Generals on Nov. 10. Left winger Mike Rice moved to Oshawa for left winger Jonah Leroux and the Battalion received the option to switch first-round choices in the 2001 CHL Import Draft. The Battalion was able to move up from the 32nd choice to fifth overall.
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The Vancouver Giants, the newest expansion team in the Western Hockey League, had the first pick in the Import Draft and selected Marian Havel, brother of veteran Battalion forward Lukas Havel. The younger Havel and Kreps were teammates at the World Under-17 Challenge.
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The Battalion has the 36th pick (90th overall) in the second round of the CHL Import Draft, which will take place on Thursday.
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