2015 CHL Import Draft Results
Tuesday June 30, 2015
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the final results of the 2015 CHL Import Draft.
The 24th annual CHL Import Draft included a total of 78 players selected from 14 different countries led by 21 players from Russia and consisting of 50 forwards and 28 defencemen. Of the 78 players selected, 28 were by Ontario Hockey League teams from 10 different countries led by six players from Finland and consisting of 18 forwards and 10 defencemen.
The two-round draft took place online with the order of selection rotating through each of the CHL’s three leagues using an inverse order of final regular season standings within each league from the 2014-15 season.
The Acadie-Bathurst Titan used the first overall pick to acquire 17-year-old Russian forward Vladimir Kuznetsov. At 6’2’’, 189lb, Kuznetsov played last season in Russia’s MHL for Avto Yekaterinburg and also won gold at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sarnia. A pair of 2016 NHL Draft prospects round out the top three including Czech defenceman Libor Hajek selected second overall by the Saskatoon Blades, and Russian forward Dmitry Sokolov chosen third overall by the Sudbury Wolves.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS OF THE 2015 CHL IMPORT DRAFT
The 2015 CHL Import Draft featured 15 players selected in the 2015 NHL Draft including seven by OHL teams. The list includes a pair of second round picks such as Anaheim Ducks prospect Julius Nattinen selected 51st overall by the Barrie Colts, and Los Angeles Kings prospect Erik Cernak chosen 54th overall by the Erie Otters. Two third round NHL Draft picks were also selected including Detroit Red Wings prospect Vili Saarijarvi chosen ninth overall by the Flint Firebirds, and New York Rangers prospect Robin Kovacs chosen 108th overall by the North Bay Battalion. Additionally, fourth round NHL Draft pick Jonne Tammela, a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, was selected 15th overall by the Peterborough Petes, fourth round Rangers prospect Daniel Bernhardt was selected 105th overall by the London Knights, and fifth round Philadelphia Flyers prospect David Kase was chosen 33rd overall by the Niagara IceDogs.
A total of 33 players selected in the 2015 CHL Import Draft are eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft including 13 from the OHL, while four players selected are not eligible for the NHL Draft until 2017.
Each team in the CHL is permitted to dress and play a maximum of two import players each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.
18 of the 20 OHL teams made Import Draft selections with the exception of the Kitchener Rangers and the Owen Sound Attack.
2015 CHL Import Draft – OHL Selections:
Round 1
3. Sudbury Wolves – Dmitry Sokolov (LW) (Omsk Yastreby – RUS)
6. Windsor Spitfires – Mikhail Sergachev (D) (Kazan Irbis – RUS)
9. Flint Firebirds – Vili Saarijarvi (D) (Green Bay Gamblers – USHL)
12. Mississauga Steelheads – Alexander Nylander (LW) (AIK – SWE)
15. Peterborough Petes – Jonne Tammela (C) (Kuopio KalPa – FIN)
18. Saginaw Spirit – Markus Niemelainen (D) (HPK Hameenlinna – FIN)
21. Hamilton Bulldogs – Ondrej Kachyna (D) (Budejovice Jr. B – CZE)
24. Sarnia Sting – Patrik Laine (LW) (Tappara Tampere – FIN)
27. Kingston Frontenacs – Konstantin Chernyuk (D) (Wichita Falls Wildcats – NAHL)
33. Niagara IceDogs – David Kase (C) (Chomutov Pirati – CZE)
39. Guelph Storm – Timo Haussener (C) (Rapperswill/Jona – SUI)
42. Ottawa 67’s – Stepan Falkovsky (D) (Minsk Junost – BEL)
45. London Knights – Olli Juolevi (D) (Jokerit Helsinki – FIN)
48. North Bay Battalion – Max Kislinger (LW) (Salzburg – AUT)
51. Barrie Colts – Julius Nattinen (C) (JYP Jyvaskyla – FIN)
54. Erie Otters – Erik Cernak (D) (Kosice – SVK)
56. Oshawa Generals – Lukas Lofquist (RW) (Djurgarden – SWE)
58. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – Makar Tokarev (F) (Magnitogorsk Stalnye Lisy – RUS)
Round 2
66. Windsor Spitfires – Christof Kromp (C) (Troja-Ljungby – SWE)
69. Flint Firebirds – Matyas Kantner (LW) (Plzen – CZE)
72. Mississauga Steelheads – Daniel Muzito-Bagenda (LW) (MODO – SWE)
81. Hamilton Bulldogs – Christian Mieritz (D) (Rodovre – DEN)
84. Sarnia Sting – Louis Latta (F) (Kolner – GER)
99. Guelph Storm – Vladislav Barulin (RW) (Cherepovets Almaz – RUS)
105. London Knights – Daniel Bernhardt (RW) (Djurgarden – SWE)
108. North Bay Battalion – Robin Kovacs (RW) (AIK IF – SWE)
114. Erie Otters – Jakob Mayenschein (C) (Landshut – GER)
116. Oshawa Generals – Mischa Moor (D) (Ambri – SUI)
2015 CHL Import Draft Summary:
Draft Picks by Position:
Forward – 50 (18 OHL)
Defence – 28 (10 OHL)
Draft Picks by Country:
Russia – 21 (5 OHL)
Czech Republic – 12 (3 OHL)
Finland – 9 (6 OHL)
Sweden – 9 (5 OHL)
Germany – 5 (3 OHL)
Switzerland – 5 (2 OHL)
Slovakia – 4 (1 OHL)
Austria – 3 (1 OHL)
Denmark – 3 (1 OHL)
Latvia – 3
Belarus – 1 (1 OHL)
Netherlands – 1
Slovenia – 1
Ukraine – 1
Draft Picks by Birthdate and NHL Status:
1998-born late and 2017 NHL Draft eligible – 4
1998-born and 2016 NHL Draft eligible – 30 (12 OHL)
1997-born late and 2016 Draft eligible – 3 (1 OHL)
1997-born and 2015 NHL Drafted – 12 (5 OHL)
1997-born and NHL Undrafted – 16 (4 OHL)
1996-born and 2015 NHL Drafted – 3 (2 OHL)
1996-born and NHL Undrafted – 10 (4 OHL)
A total of 14 players acquired through previous CHL Import Drafts were recently selected in the 2015 NHL Draft including five first round picks led by last year’s top Import Draft pick Pavel Zacha, a Czech born forward of the Sarnia Sting, chosen sixth overall by the New Jersey Devils.
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