2011 CHL Import Draft Takes Place Wednesday June 29

Press Release

The two-round draft will take place online and can be followed live as picks are made at www.chl.ca.

Each team in the CHL is permitted to carry two European Import players each season. These players are selected annually at the Import Draft, with the order of selection rotating through each of the three leagues in the CHL using an inverse order of their final regular season standings from the 2010-11 season.

The OHL's Barrie Colts currently hold the number one selection in the 2011 CHL Import Draft followed by the QMJHL's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, and the WHL's Calgary Hitmen. Teams are permitted to trade draft picks up to and during the Import Draft process.

Last season the Prince George Cougars used the first overall pick to select Edmonton Oilers prospect Martin Marincin, before the Sarnia Sting selected this year's OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year and 2012 NHL Entry Draft prospect Nail Yakupov. With the third overall pick the Halifax Mooseheads selected 2012 NHL Entry Draft prospect and Czech Republic National Junior Team member Martin Frk.

Four players selected in the 2010 CHL Import Draft were recently chosen in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft on June 24 in Minnesota including Sven Bartschi of the Portland Winterhawks who went 13th overall to the Calgary Flames, Vladislav Namestnikov of the London Knights who was picked 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nicklas Jensen of the Oshawa Generals who was chosen 29th overall by the Vancouver Canucks, and Rickard Rakell of the Plymouth Whalers who was chosen 30th overall by the Anaheim Ducks.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)