Brandon Wheat Kings - Brandon

BRANDON, MB – The Brandon Wheat Kings will head across the pond tomorrow, with the 34th overall selection in the 2022 CHL Import Draft.

The Wheat Kings have drafted 39 import players since the inaugural draft back in 1992, a list that includes future BWK stars Ivan Provorov (30th Overall, 2014), Jiri Patera (104th Overall, 2018), and Toni Rajala (14th Overall, 2009).

“The impact of the Import Draft can be franchise changing” said Director of Player Personnel Chris Moulton. “The best recent example is Ivan Provorov and all that he accomplished in just two years.”

CHL teams are only allowed to carry two imports on their active roster and teams are not allowed to trade their draft picks.

The Wheat Kings currently hold the playing rights to one import – Zakhar Polshakov.

Historically speaking, the Czech Republic leads the way with 487 CHL draft picks, 112 of which went on to play in the NHL. Russia and Slovakia round out the top three countries represented in the draft with a combined 632 selections.

“Our hockey staff is always in discussions about players and when it comes to the international leagues, we rely on our NHL and agency contacts… on top of the mountain of video we have watched,” added Moulton. “This is never an easy draft to prepare for, but our guys have worked hard and I’m excited to see how it plays out.”

The Medicine Hat Tigers hold the first-overall selection, to be followed by the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Cape Breton Eagles.

Medicine Hat will select first overall in the CHL Import Draft for the second time in franchise history. The Tigers drafted Czech defenceman Vladimir Sicak with the first pick in the 1998 CHL Import Draft; Sicak went on to skate in 105 WHL regular season games with Medicine Hat from 1998-2000.

The Tigers are the first WHL Club to select first overall in the CHL Import Draft since the Swift Current Broncos selected Finnish defenceman Kasper Puutio in 2019.

Each of the 60 CHL Clubs are permitted to make a maximum of two selections in the 2022 CHL Import Draft.

2022 CHL Import Draft – WHL Selections

Round One
1. Medicine Hat Tigers
4. Tri-City Americans
7. Victoria Royals
10. Vancouver Giants
13. Spokane Chiefs
16. Prince George Cougars
19. Calgary Hitmen
22. Swift Current Broncos
25. Regina Pats
28. Prince Albert Raiders
31. Lethbridge Hurricanes
34. Brandon Wheat Kings
37. Saskatoon Blades
40. Moose Jaw Warriors
43. Kelowna Rockets
46. Seattle Thunderbirds
49. Red Deer Rebels
52. Portland Winterhawks
55. Kamloops Blazers
57. Everett Silvertips
59. Edmonton Oil Kings
60. Winnipeg ICE

Round One
61. Medicine Hat Tigers
64. Tri-City Americans
67. Victoria Royals
70. Vancouver Giants
73. Spokane Chiefs
76. Prince George Cougars
79. Calgary Hitmen
82. Swift Current Broncos
85. Regina Pats
88. Prince Albert Raiders
91. Lethbridge Hurricanes
94. Brandon Wheat Kings
97. Saskatoon Blades
100. Moose Jaw Warriors
103. Kelowna Rockets
106. Seattle Thunderbirds
109. Red Deer Rebels
112. Portland Winterhawks
115. Kamloops Blazers
117. Everett Silvertips
119. Edmonton Oil Kings
120. Winnipeg ICE