Home »
ICE draft highly considered Russian
The Kootenay ICE today benefited again for having its worst season in the Western Hockey League (WHL) since re-locating to Cranbrook from Edmonton in 1996.
The club selected first in todayâs 2016 CHL Import Draft and tabbed big, skilled Russian forward Klim Kostin, a top prospect for the 2017 NHL Draft.
The Hockey Newsâ Sneak Peak 2017 has Kostin rated eighth overall for the 2017 NHL draft, noting: âTons of upside from a kid with skill who has also sprouted a big frame.â
Kostin, a 6â3.5â, 183 pounder, captained Team Russia to a silver medal at last yearâs IIHF World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and also wore the âCâ for Russia at the Under-18 World Junior Championship. He also played for Blashikha HC MVD this past season.
The ICE held to a Russian theme in the import draft, selecting 6â1â, 187-pound defensemen Nikita Radzivilyuk with the 61st selection (first of second round).
Radzivilyuk has played for both Russiaâs U16 and U17 squads.
âOur goal leading into this yearâs Import Draft was to add a pair of players who can complement our young core as we continue building for the future,â explained ICE General Manager Jeff Chynoweth. âKlim Kostin is a world-class player who captained his national team to a silver medal at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and also led his country at the Under-18 World Championships in April. His size and skating ability have already caught the attention of scouts in anticipation of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
âNikita Radzivilyuk will add size to our back end, and has the potential to develop into an offensive presence as he matures,â Chynoweth said, adding, âWith only one other 1999-born defenseman in our group, he will have every opportunity to grow within our organization over the next two to three years.â
The two-round CHL import draft took place online with the order of selection rotating through each of the CHLâs three leagues using an inverse order of final regular season standings from the 2015-16 regular season. All CHL Clubs are permitted to carry two import players on their roster each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.
e-KNOW
