2019 CHL Import Draft set for Thursday June 27

Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League today announced details for the 28th annual CHL Import Draft which takes place on Thursday June 27, 2019, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.

The two-round draft will take 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 2018-19 season. The Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos hold the number one pick, followed by the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan who will select third overall. 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.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW THE 2019 CHL IMPORT DRAFT ORDER AND RESULTS

A total of 12 players acquired through the CHL Import Draft were recently selected in the 2019 NHL Draft led by Finnish defenceman Lassi Thomson of the Kelowna Rockets chosen 19th overall by the Ottawa Senators. Second round NHL Draft picks from the CHL Import Draft included Danish goaltender Mads Sogaard of the Medicine Hat Tigers (37th to Ottawa), Russian defenceman Artemi Kniazev of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens (48th to San Jose), Belarusian defenceman Vladislav Kolyachonok of the Flint Firebirds (52nd to Florida), Russian defenceman Nikita Okhotyuk of the Ottawa 67’s (61st to New Jersey), and Germany born forward Nikita Alexandrov of the Charlottetown Islanders (62nd to St. Louis).

Last season a total of 77 players were selected from 12 different countries led by 16 players from the Czech Republic and consisting of 47 forwards, 23 defencemen, and seven goaltenders.

About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.