Storm select Vilmer Alriksson and Damian Slavik in 2023 CHL Import Draft
GUELPH, ON – General Manager George Burnett has announced that the Storm have selected Swedish forward Vilmer Alriksson with the 34th overall pick in the 2023 CHL Import Draft and Slovakian goaltender Damian Slavik with the 94th selection.
A 6’6″, 214 lb left-handed forward from Sweden, Alriksson was selected in the 4th round by the Vancouver Canucks at last week’s NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old forward split the 2022-23 season between the Djurgårdens IF J20 and J18 clubs where he combined to score 30 points (16G/14A) in 52 games. Described by General Manager George Burnett as a ‘big body who can skate’, Alriksson was compared to former Import pick and Storm forward Alexey Toropchenko.
With their second pick of the draft, the Storm chose 2005-born goaltender Damian Slavik. Last season in Slovakia, Slavik was part of Team Slovakia U18 that competes in the Slovakia U20 league. The 6’4″ netminder registered 5 wins and 2 losses to go with a 1.82 GAA and a 0.940 save percentage. Slavik was also a member of Team Slovakia at the 2023 U-18 World Hockey Championship.
“With both of these selections we addressed a need with our our size, skill and speed with our forward group and also added depth to our goaltending position,” General Manager George Burnett said. “We are working hard with both families and their representatives and hope to have both kids here for camp in the Fall.”
Vilmer Alriksson
Pos: LW
HT: 6.06
WT: 214
DOB: Feb. 18, 2005
Damian Slavik
Pos: G
HT: 6.04
WT: 183
DOB: June. 9, 2005
