Toronto, Ont. – Ontario Hockey League member teams selected a total of 28 players from across 11 different countries in the 2023 CHL Import Draft on Wednesday, July 5. The OHL selections consisted of 14 defencemen, 12 forwards and two goaltenders.
The two-round draft took place online with the order of selection rotating through each of the CHL’s three leagues. The Erie Otters selected first overall as a result of winning the OHL Priority Selection Draft Lottery back in March.
The Otters led off the proceedings with the selection of Chicago Blackhawks second round NHL Draft pick Martin Misiak, who spent the 2022-23 season with the USHL Clark Cup champion Youngstown Phantoms. Misiak, who hails from Slovakia, becomes the highest-drafted Otters player in CHL Import Draft history, joining fellow countryman Ondrej Molnar, who was chosen fifth overall last summer, in the Otters organization.
OHL clubs selected a total of seven NHL prospects with Misiak being followed by a trio of Finnish talents in blueliner Arttu Karki (Vegas Golden Knights) who went seventh overall to the Soo Greyhounds, defenceman Emil Pieniniemi (Pittsburgh Penguins) chosen 10th overall by the Kingston Frontenacs and forward Rasmus Kumpulainen (Minnesota Wild) picked-up 13th overall by the Oshawa Generals. The Sudbury Wolves selected Czech netminder Jakub Vondras (Carolina Hurricanes) with the 22nd overall pick, the Guelph Storm added Swedish winger Vilmer Alriksson (Vancouver Canucks) with the 34th overall selection and the Ottawa 67’s nabbed Finnish flank Tuomas Uronen (Vegas Golden Knights) with the 57th overall choice.
A pair of selections competed in the Canadian Hockey League last season, with the Flint Firebirds taking Swedish forward Markas Samenas, who spent 2022-23 with the QMJHL’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan. The Saginaw Spirit also went for experience, picking winger Valentin Zhugin who recorded 34 points (17-17–34) in 60 games for the Guelph Storm last season.
A total of nine players eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft were chosen, with the Brantford Bulldogs (Adam Jiricek, Dominik Badinka) and Mississauga Steelheads (Jakub Fibigr, Tomas Galvas) each selecting two. An additional four players chosen were born late in 2006 and won’t be eligible for the NHL Draft until 2025.
Each CHL team is permitted to dress a maximum of two import players each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.
OHL Draft Picks by Position:
Defencemen – 14
Forwards – 12
Goaltenders – 2
OHL Draft Picks by Country:
Czechia – 9 (MISS 2, BFD 2, SBY, KIT, OS, WSR, OSH)
Finland – 5 (SOO, KGN, OSH, OTT, KIT)
Slovakia – 4 (ER, SAR, GUE, NB)
Sweden – 2 (GUE, FLNT)
Switzerland – 2 (LDN, BAR)
Germany – 1 (PBO)
Latvia – 1 (OTT)
Norway – 1 (BAR)
Russia – 1 (SAG)
Slovenia – 1 (NIAG)
Ukraine – 1 (NB)
OHL Draft picks by Birthdate and NHL status:
2006-born late and 2025 NHL Draft eligible – 4
2006-born and 2024 NHL Draft eligible – 6
2005-born late and 2024 NHL Draft eligible – 3
2005-born and 2023 NHL drafted – 4
2005-born and undrafted – 6
2004-born late and 2023 NHL drafted – 2
2004-born and 2022 NHL drafted – 1
2004-born and undrafted – 2
NHL Draft picks by OHL teams in CHL Import Draft:
1. Martin Misiak (C) (Erie – 2nd round to Chicago in 2023)
7. Arttu Karki (D) (Sault Ste. Marie – 3rd round to Vegas in 2023)
10. Emil Pieniniemi (D) (Kingston – 3rd round to Pittsburgh in 2023)
13. Rasmus Kumpulainen (C) (Oshawa – 2nd round to Minnesota in 2023)
22. Jakub Vondras (G) (Sudbury – 6th round to Carolina in 2022)
34. Vilmer Alriksson (LW) (Guelph – 4th round to Vancouver in 2023)
57. Tuomas Uronen (RW) – Ottawa – 6th round to Vegas in 2023)
