Hawks Make Two Picks In Import Draft
The Portland Winterhawks acquired two players in today’s Canadian Hockey League Import Draft: selecting Danish right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand and Russian defenseman Kirill Vorobyov.
The Hawks selected Bjorkstrand with the 26th pick in the first round, which they acquired from the Kelowna Rockets last season. Bjorkstrand played last season with the Herning Blue Fox of the Danish professional league and totaled 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 36 games and helped lead his team to the league championship. He led all 16-year-olds in the league in scoring, with the next closest player his age registering five points.
Bjorkstrand also represented Denmark at the 2012 World Junior Championship and tallied two goals in the tournament, and played for the national team at the 2012 Under-18 World Championship where he registered seven points in six games.
“Our first priority is to talk to Oliver and his family about playing in Portland next season. We believe that if he decides to join us he could be an impact player,” said Portland Winterhawks General Manager & Head Coach Mike Johnston. “Oliver was terrific playing among professionals last season, was one of the youngest players in the World Junior Championship and followed the season with an outstanding showing in the U-18 championship.”
With their second pick in the Import Draft, Portland selected Kirill Vorobyov 57th overall. Vorobyov is a Russian native who played two games with Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League before joining the New Mexico Mustangs of the North American Hockey League.
“Kirill is a big defenseman who will provide us with depth on the blue line,” said Johnston. “He has gained valuable experience playing in North America and we’re looking forward to having him join the team.”
The Import Draft rotated through each of the CHL’s three leagues using an inverse order of final regular season standings from the 2011-12 season. Each team in the CHL is permitted to carry two European import players each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.
