Sting Wrap Up Import Draft
Sarnia, ON Sarnia Sting General Manager Alan Millar announced this afternoon that the hockey club has selected goaltender Tomi Karhunen with the 35th overall pick in the first round of the 2007 CHL Import Draft and right winger Marek Indra with the 41st overall pick. The Sting acquired the 41st pick from Belleville for future considerations.
Karhunen a native of Finland played last season with the Karpat of the Finnish Jr. league posting a 2.71 goals against average and a .907 save percentage in 28 games played.
Karhunen represented Finland at the 2006 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge. In 3 games at the U-17 Challenge he posted a sparkling 1.59 goals against average allowing just 4 goals and had a save percentage of .947. The ISS (International Scouting Services) acknowledged him as one of the top players in the tournament.
The current ISS scouting report on Karhunen is as follows:
Excellent reflexes, cuts the angles well and has a quick glove. He gave his team every chance to win. Very calm; doesn’t get flustered with traffic in front. Extremely flexible. Covers the lower half effectively, challenges well. Rebound control is phenomenal. Quick hands. ISS
Indra hails from the Czech Republic and played last season for HC Slavia Praha of the Czech Jr. league.
Indra also comes with international experience having represented his country at the 2006 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
The 18-year old forward has a reputation for being a gritty hard nosed player.