Colts select center Julius Nattinen in 2015 CHL Import Draft

Barrie, ON– Barrie Colts General Manager & Head Scout Jason Ford announced today that they have selected centerman Julius Nattinen in the 1^st round, 51^st overall in the 2015 CHL Import draft.

Nattinen played most of last season with JYP-Akatemia in Finland’s second division, recording 11-18=29 points with eight penalty minutes in 39 games. The 6’2”, 194-pound center helped Finland to a silver medal at the 2015 IIHF Under-18 World Championship and has also appeared in several other international tournaments.

“There is some work to be done in signing Julius Nattinen, but this being said, we are extremely excited about adding Julius to the Colts organization, said General Manager Jason Ford. “He is a two-way center with skill, finish and some bite to his game. Julius comes from a strong hockey family, and has excelled among his age group for some time. He brings good size and a competitive attitude to the game.”

The Jyvaskyla, Finland native was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2^nd round, 59^th overall at the 2015 NHL Draft this past weekend in Sunrise, Florida.

“We will work towards signing him, and helping him hone his skills in North America. He is a high-caliber center at the OHL level, and will most certainly help our hockey club moving forward,’ added Ford.

His brother, Joonas, was selected 65th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2009 and skated in one game for the franchise in 2013-14. He spent 2014-15 with MODO in the Swedish Hockey League.

The Colts also held the 111^th overall pick in the 2015 Import Draft, but passed on the pick to retain defenceman Rasmus Andersson. Andersson was also recently selected at the 2015 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames in the second round, 53^rd overall.

For the full list of players drafted in today’s CHL import draft visit www.chl.ca.

Julius Nattinen             C       6’2”   194lbs
Birthplace: Jyvaskyla, Finland
Date of Birth: January 14, 1997

                        Team             League                        GP       G         A         PTS     PIM

2014-15           JYP-Akatemia Mestis                        39        11        18        29      8
                        JYP                 Liiga                               9          0          3          3       0
                       Finland U18  WJC – 18                        7          2          2          4       2
                       Finland U18    International-Jr          23        11        20        31       1
                       Finland U18    Hlinka Memorial          4          1          6          7        0