2025 CHL Import Draft NEWS

The 2025 CHL Import Draft will expand to three rounds for the first time, reflecting a new policy that allows CHL clubs to carry up to three import players on their rosters

The Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) will have the first overall selection in the 2025 CHL Import Draft, which is scheduled for Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. ET. Following the Warriors, the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) will choose second, while the Victoriaville Tigres of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) will select third. The CHL’s newest franchise, the Penticton Vees of the WHL, will make their first-ever selection at No. 10 during the 2025 CHL Import Draft (see the complete draft order below).

As part of a new policy adopted for the 2025-26 season, CHL clubs will now be permitted to carry up to three import players on their rosters. In accordance with this rule change, the CHL Import Draft will expand to three rounds. Under the revised rules, a club with no current import players may select up to three players, a club with one import may select two, while a club with two imports may select one. Clubs with three import players will be ineligible to participate. Additionally, CHL clubs will be permitted to trade selections ahead of the 2025 CHL Import Draft, and these trades must be finalized two days before the draft. 

For the first time in franchise history, the Moose Jaw Warriors hold the first overall pick in the CHL Import Draft, and they will be selecting within the top five for just the second time in the event’s history. With their first-round pick in last year’s CHL Import Draft, the reigning WHL champions selected Dominik Pavlik 53rd overall. The 18-year-old from Trutnov, Czechia, registered a goal and an assist over the club’s final 13 games of the 2024-25 season. The Warriors have a proven track record of developing high-impact import talent, including NHL alumni Pavel Kubina and Tomas Fleischmann, as well as Martin Rysavy, who played a key role in helping Moose Jaw capture its first-ever WHL championship in 2024.

The Peterborough Petes earned the second overall pick of the 2025 CHL Import Draft after winning the 2025 OHL Priority Selection Lottery. Set to pick second for the first time in franchise history, the Petes made only one selection at last year’s event – taking Czech forward and 2026 NHL Draft prospect Adam Novotny at No. 9. Peterborough boasts a proven history of selecting strong talent through the CHL Import Draft, including Fredrik Näslund (Sweden), Lino Martschini (Switzerland), Lukas Krajicek (Czechia), and Brian Zanetti (Switzerland), all of whom played key roles during championship seasons or brought immediate offensive contributions to the team.

The Victoriaville Tigres hold the third overall pick of the 2025 CHL Import Draft, marking their highest draft position in franchise history at this event. During last year’s draft, the Tigres chose a pair of Finnish skaters in Mikko Leppä (1st Round – 40th Overall) and Roope Rajala (2nd Round – 100th Overall), who both played a combined 39 games for Victoriaville in 2024-25. Victoriaville has a strong track record of identifying and developing international talent through the CHL Import Draft. Notable alumni include NHLer Andrej Nestrašil, as well as standout forwards Mikhail Abramov, Tomas Kubalik, and Nikita Prishchepov, who each had a significant impact on the club during their time in Victoriaville.

Over the years, the CHL Import Draft has seen countless players selected by CHL clubs at this event go on to have successful careers in the CHL’s Member Leagues (WHL, OHL, and QMJHL) before later hearing their names called at the NHL Draft. Last year, at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas, Nevada, 10 CHL players who came through the CHL Import Draft were selected by NHL clubs: Julius Miettinen (Everett Silvertips, WHL / Seattle Kraken), Ondrej Becher (Prince George Cougars, WHL / Detroit Red Wings), Eriks Mateiko (Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL / Washington Capitals), Adam Jecho (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL / St. Louis Blues), Jakub Milota (Cape Breton Eagles, QMJHL / Nashville Predators), Jan Golicic (Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL / Tampa Bay Lightning), Maximilian Curran (Tri-City Americans, WHL / Colorado Avalanche), Matyas Melovsky (Baie-Comeau Drakkar, QMJHL / New Jersey Devils), Jakub Fibigr (Brampton Steelheads, OHL / Seattle Kraken), and Nikita Prishchepov (Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL / Colorado Avalanche).

Among some of the other notable import players to have come through the CHL before having successful NHL careers include Leon Draisaitl (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL), Zdeno Chara (Prince George Cougars / WHL), Marian Hossa (Portland Winterhawks / WHL), Michael Backlund (Kelowna Rockets / WHL), Oliver Bjorkstrand (Portland Winterhawks / WHL), Gabriel Landeskog (Kitchener Rangers / OHL), Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts / OHL), Nikita Zadorov (London Knights / OHL), Rasmus Andersson (Barrie Colts / OHL), Olli Määttä (London Knights / OHL), Nikita Kucherov (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies / QMJHL), Alexander Radulov (Québec Remparts / QMJHL), David Krejci (Gatineau Olympiques / QMJHL), Nico Hischier (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL), and Nikolaj Ehlers (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL).

Since the first CHL Import Draft was held in 1992, over 2,170 players from outside of Canada and the United States have been selected at this annual event. 

Order of Selections for the 2025 CHL Import Draft