The 60 teams that make up Major Junior Hockey over three leagues, known as the C-H-L, took part in the annual Import Draft Wednesday morning.

The Saskatoon Blades, with the last pick in both rounds, opted to select a pair of 2007-born forwards in Vlastimil Blazek of Czechia at the end of the first round and David Lewandowski of Germany with the last choice of the draft. Meanwhile, the Prince Albert Raiders went for age and experience with their one selection, 26th overall, when they picked 19-year-old German defenceman Norwin Panocha who played in the Quebec-Maritimes League last season with Chicoutimi. Following is a news release from the W-H-L…..

WHL Clubs select 26 players from seven countries in 2024 CHL Import Draft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2024

Calgary, Alta. – Western Hockey League clubs have selected 26 players from seven different nations through the 2024 CHL Import Draft, which was held on Wednesday, July 3.

The two-round draft takes place online with the order of selection rotating through each of the CHL’s three leagues- the WHL, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

All CHL clubs may carry two import players on their roster each season.

The Kamloops Blazers had the highest selection among WHL clubs, selecting Czech centre Vit Zahejsky with the second-overall pick.

The 5-foot-9, 179-pound 16-year-old registered 19 goals and 20 assists for 39 points in 42 games with HC Energie Karlovy Vary’s U20 club in 2023-24.

Zahejsky is eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

The Regina Pats held the WHL’s other top-10 pick, which the team used to pick 6-foot-4 winger Vaclav Nestrasil.

The Czech product potted 24 goals and 19 assists for 43 points in 27 games with HC Sparta Praha in Czechia’s U17 league before joining the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks for 11 games to close out the season.

Nestrasil and Zahejsky teamed up at the 2023 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where Czechia was narrowly defeated by the United States in the semifinals in a 5-4 overtime thriller.

Zahejsky had a goal and two assists in the semifinal tilt, while Nestrasil registered an even-strength goal.

Nestrasil is also the brother of former NHLer Andrej Nestrasil.

WHL clubs chose 16 forwards, nine defencemen and one goaltender.

This year’s contingent also includes six players who have previously been drafted by National Hockey League teams.

With the 14th overall pick, the Edmonton Oil Kings chose Czech winger Miroslav Holinka, who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round (151^st overall) in last week’s NHL Entry Draft.

The Victoria Royals used the 23^rd overall pick to bring in Finnish forward Markus Loponen, a Winnipeg Jets prospect (2024, 5-155).

Prince Albert snapped up German blueliner Norwin Panocha with the 26^th overall selection.

Panocha was taken by the Buffalo Sabres in the seventh round (205^th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft and played last season with the QMJHL’s Chicoutimi Sagueneens, where he racked up 15 assists in 52 games.

The Red Deer Rebels used the 44^th overall pick to select Finnish winger Kasper Pikkarainen- the highest NHL draft selection of this year’s import crop.

Pikkarainen was chosen by the New Jersey Devils in the third round (85^th overall) at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas, Nev.

Medicine Hat opted for towering Finnish defenceman Niilopekka Muhonen (Dallas Stars, 2024, 5-158) with the 46^th pick in the CHL Import Draft.

The Tigers also brought in another blueliner from Finland in Veeti Vaisanen, who became one of the first-ever players drafted by the Utah Hockey Club when the team called his name 96^th overall in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Visit CHL.ca/draft for complete results from the 2024 CHL Import Draft.

2024 CHL Import Draft – WHL Selections

First Round

Kamloops Blazers: Vit Zahejsky (C) — Czechia — 5’9/176 lbs. — August 10, 2007
Regina Pats: Vaclav Nestrasil (RW) — Czechia — 6’4/187 lbs. — April 6, 2007
Seattle Thunderbirds: Matej Pekar (C) — Czechia — 5’10/154 lbs. — September 8, 2007
Edmonton Oil Kings: Miroslav Holinka (RW) — Czechia — 6’1/185 lbs. — November 10, 2005
Calgary Hitmen: Robin Svancara (LW) — Czechia — 6’3/183 lbs. — May 22, 2007
Spokane Chiefs: Asanali Sarkenov (RW) — Kazakhstan — 6’4/198 lbs. — July 22, 2006
Victoria Royals: Markus Loponen (LW) — Finland — 6’5 /186 lbs. — June 17, 2006
Prince Albert Raiders: Norwin Panocha (D) — Germany — 6’2/192 lbs. — February 24, 2005
Vancouver Giants: Tobias Tomik (C) — Slovakia — 6’0/179 lbs. — December 18, 2007
Kelowna Rockets: Max Psenicka (D) — Czechia — 6’4/176 lbs. — January 18, 2007
Wenatchee Wild: Noah Samanski (F) — Germany — 6’1/172 lbs. — May 12, 2005
Lethbridge Hurricanes: Vojtech Cihar (LW) — Czechia — 5’11/154 lbs. — March 29, 2007
Brandon Wheat Kings: Adam Belusko (D) — Slovakia — 5’11/186 lbs. — April 12, 2006
Red Deer Rebels: Kasper Pikkarainen (RW) — Finland — 6’3/198 lbs. — August 7, 2006
Medicine Hat Tigers: Niilopekka Muhonen (D) — Finland — 6’4/195 lbs. — February 28, 2006
Swift Current Broncos: Adam Kral (D) — Czechia — 6’2/180 lbs. — February 8, 2006
Moose Jaw Warriors: Dominik Pavlik (C) — Czechia — 6’1/187 lbs. — February 9, 2005
Portland Winterhawks: Ondrej Stebetak (G) — Czechia — 6’2/176 lbs — July 19, 2007
Prince George Cougars: Arseni Anisimov (D) — Russia — 5’11/167 lbs. — November 25, 2007
Saskatoon Blades: Vlastimil Blazek (F) — Czechia — 5’9/152 lbs. — September 30, 2007

Second Round

Seattle Thunderbirds: Radim Mrtka (D) — Czechia — 6’4/183 lbs. — June 9, 2007
Victoria Royals: Simon Pohludka (LW) — Czechia — 6’1/187 lbs. — February 10, 2006
Medicine Hat Tigers: Veeti Vaisanen (D) — Finland — 6’1/187 lbs. — February 15, 2006
Swift Current Broncos: William Morin (RW) — Sweden — 6’1/168 lbs. — April 12, 2007
Portland Winterhawks: Marek Chaloupka (D) — Czechia — 6’0/185 lbs. — February 6, 2006
Saskatoon Blades: David Lewandowski (F) — Germany — 6’0/172 lbs. — February 20, 2007

WHL Selections by Country

Czechia – 14

Finland – 4

Germany – 3

Slovakia – 2

Kazakhstan – 1

Russian – 1

Sweden – 1