The pick is in, and the Erie Otters have made 18-year-old forward Martin Misiak the first overall selection of the 2023 CHL Import Draft.
A native of Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, Misiak was a second round (55th overall) selection of the Chicago Blackhawks in last week’s 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville, Tennessee. The 6-foot-2, 200Ib. centre helped the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms win a Clark Cup title last season, recording 17 points (6-11—17) in 27 regular season games before adding 10 (2-8—10) in nine playoff contests. Misiak began his season on home soil in Slovakia, recording 10 points (1-9—10) in 29 games with HC Nove Zamky of the country’s top professional circuit.
Misiak was chosen second overall by the Saginaw Spirit in last year’s CHL Import Draft before Pavel Mintyukov and Matyas Sapovaliv were confirmed as part of the Spirit’s 2022-23 roster. He becomes the highest-drafted Otters player in the history of the CHL Import Draft.
Misiak is one of several top prospects to come out of Slovakia in recent years and follows Adam Sykora, who was chosen by the Medicine Hat Tigers last summer, as the country’s second straight first overall CHL Import Draft pick. He joins fellow countryman Ondrej Molnar, who Erie selected fifth overall in 2022, in the Otters organization. Internationally, Misiak has represented Slovakia in both the 2022 and 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.
Misiak is currently attending Chicago Blackhawks Development Camp alongside OHL talent in Ethan Del Mastro (Sarnia Sting), Gavin Hayes (Flint Firebirds), Nick Lardis (Brantford Bulldogs), Paul Ludwinski (Kingston Frontenacs) and Alex Pharand (Sudbury Wolves).
