2021 CHL Import Draft Preview

With the 29^th Annual CHL Import Draft set for tomorrow morning at 11 AM EST, Sarnia Sting General Manager Dylan Seca will look to add another key contributor to the Sting roster using the 24^th-overall pick in preparation for the 2021-22 season, set to kick-off on October 7.

Last year the Sting used the seventh-overall pick in the 2021 Import Draft to select Slovakian forward Alex Geci. Geci, who stands at 6’3” and 185 pounds, is set to make his debut with the Sting this upcoming season after committing to the team on July 23 last summer.

With the 7th overall selection in the 2020 #CHLImportDraft the Sarnia Sting are pleased to select:

C- Alex Geci! Welcome to #StingNation @GeciAlex pic.twitter.com/hI3EpZjPN9

— Sarnia Sting (@StingHockey) June 30, 2020

#BREAKING 7th overall Canadian Hockey League Import selection Alex Geci (@GeciAlex) signs his commitment to the #Sting

Details: https://t.co/avOgTZUWeZ pic.twitter.com/Zl8brdLmNU

— Sarnia Sting (@StingHockey) July 23, 2020

Prior to being selected by the Sting and the COVID-19 pandemic, Geci spent the 2019-20 season playing between HC Slovan Bratislava U20 (Slovakia U20) and Lukko U18 (Finnish U18 SM-Sarja). In 40 games with the two clubs, Geci recorded 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 total points. Geci also participated in three games at 2020 U-17 World Championships during which he recorded a goal and an assist.

Historically, Sting fans have enjoyed the contributions and success of numerous players selected through the Import Draft including Eric Hjorth (2019-20), Hugo Leufvenius (2017-2019), Adam Ruzicka (2016-2019), Pavel Zacha (2014-2016), Nikolay Goldobin (2012-2014), and Nail Yakupov (2010-2012). Combined, the five alumni played in 683 regular season games with the Sting and recorded 742 total points.

This is how you shoot a puck kids.

Shooting lessons courtesy of @EricHjorth #SARvsLDN | #MoreThanAGame pic.twitter.com/pvyElARuOq

— Sarnia Sting (@StingHockey) December 14, 2019

Zacha now plays for the New Jersey Devils, with whom he tallied 35 points in 50 games this year and Ruzicka spent last season with the Stockton Heat, American Hockey League affiliate of the Calgary Flames, where he recorded 11 goals and 10 assists in 28 games. Leufenius, Goldobin, and Yakupov all played professional hockey overseas last season at the end of which Nail Yakupov became a KHL champion along with fellow Sting alum Reid Boucher while playing for Avangard Omsk and Hjorth played junior hockey in Finland.

.@khl_eng Champions! 👏#StingAlum Reid Boucher & @Nail10_1993 take home Russia's top pro-hockey prize! #RiseUnited 🐝#StingFootrpint | https://t.co/ELPW1Ou7Dm pic.twitter.com/WXTiVzAKE1

— Sarnia Sting (@StingHockey) April 29, 2021

For the full list of Sting selections in the CHL Import Draft please view our CHL Import Draft History page.

The complete order of selections in this year’s CHL Import Draft is as follows:

Order of Selections for 2021 CHL Import Draft