Latest news with #CHLImportDraft
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Adam Novotny, Projected Top Prospect In The 2026 NHL Draft, Signs With Peterborough Petes
Last season, one of the OHL's top performers came from the 2024 CHL Import Draft. Ilya Protas was selected third overall by the Windsor Spitfires. He formed an unstoppable duo with Liam Greentree, scoring 50 goals and 124 points in the regular season. Protas was a massive reason why Windsor went from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best in just one year. The Peterborough Petes are hoping their 2024 import draft pick provides a similar impact next season. Advertisement The Petes announced that the organization has signed Czech winger Adam Novotny. He was selected ninth overall in last year's CHL import draft and spent last season playing the majority of the season in the Czech Extraliga as a 16/17-year-old. Former Petes defenseman, Martin Matejicek, spent the last season and a half playing for the organization and helped recruit Novotny overseas. 'I immediately contacted (after he was drafted by Peterborough) Martin Matejicek, who had only positive things to say about the club,' said Novotny. On top of playing against men last season in his home country, Novotny represented Czechia at numerous international tournaments. He took home a silver medal at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, putting up five points in five games. Then played as an underager at the 2025 World Juniors, where he scored one goal in seven games en route to a bronze medal. Lastly, he played at this past spring's U18 World Championship, racking up six points in five games. The newly signed Petes forward is preparing himself for a big season. Advertisement 'As for my personal goals, I want to help the team as much as possible and be a valuable player both on and off the ice. I realize that this season is important for me, so I want to do my best to help not only Peterborough but also the Czech U20 national team.' Novotny is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft (late 2007 birthdate), and scouts have been eyeing him for the last two years. He is considered one of the most exciting offensive players to emerge from Czechia in recent years. He plays an entertaining, high-tempo style of hockey and possesses the offensive skills necessary to take on a top-six role in the OHL starting next season. Steven Ellis, with DailyFaceoff, had him ranked No. 13 in his early 2026 draft rankings, mentioning that he's a two-way forward with a ton of muscle and can handle the physical side of the game. Although playing against men in the Czech Extraliga is still a good pathway for his development, it's way harder to put up points and be a consistent offensive contributor at his age. Coming over to the OHL allows Novotny to further showcase his offensive tools. Dale Hunter Named Canada World Juniors Head Coach Dale Hunter Named Canada World Juniors Head Coach After two consecutive disappointing fifth-place finishes at the World Junior Championships, where they lost to Czechia in the quarterfinals in 2024 and 2025, Hockey Canada needs to regain its dominance at the junior stage. Where Will Porter Martone & Kashawn Aitcheson Play In 2025-26? Latest Update Where Will Porter Martone & Kashawn Aitcheson Play In 2025-26? Latest Update For the longest time, the CHL has been regarded as the go-to option for junior hockey players who want the best development before heading off to the professional ranks, and one day playing with, or against, their idols.
Edmonton Journal
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
'Largest hockey player on the planet': What we know about the 7-foot defenceman heading to Ontario
Article content An Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team has drafted a seven-foot-tall defenceman. The Brantford Bulldogs selected Alexander Karmanov during the 2025 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft and referred to him as 'the largest hockey player on the planet' in a social media post announcing him as the 172nd overall selection. Here's what we know about the 273-pound hockey player. Article content Article content Karmanov was born in Chisinau, Moldova, on March 22, 2008. The 17-year-old is both Moldovan and Russian. According to the Brantford Bulldogs he is the first Moldovan player ever selected in the CHL Import Draft and the first to play for the team and in the OHL. Article content Why did Karmanov choose hockey over basketball? Article content Given Karmanov's extreme height, some have wondered why the young athlete didn't choose basketball. While there is no official statement from Karmanov as to why he would pick hockey over basketball, on his Instagram account, Karmanov has pictures from 2013 of him playing hockey, showing his interest in the sport from a young age. Article content Who is the tallest player in the NHL? Article content While Karmanov may be the tallest hockey player in history, the National Hockey League (NHL) record is maintained by Zdeno Chara. The six-foot-nine player retired from the league in 2022. Matt Rempe, the 23-year-old Canadian centre for the New York Rangers, has the record for the tallest active NHL player, at six-foot-nine. This could change as Karmanov is eligible for the 2026 NHL draft. Article content Where did Karmanov play before coming to Canada? Article content Karmanov played in the Russian and Belarusian leagues during the 2023-2024 season. For the 2024-2025 season, he moved to the United States to play for the under 16 AAA Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights. In 2024 he announced his commitment to play Division I hockey for Penn State University starting in 2027 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Article content Article content With the 172nd overall selection in the 2025 #CHLImportDraft the Brantford Bulldogs are proud to select 7'0" - 273lbs defenseman Alexander Karmanov! The largest hockey player on the planet is on his way to #BFD. #OHL — Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) July 2, 2025 Article content Who are some other tall athletes linked to Canada? Article content Although Karmanov has been breaking records because of his height, some Canadian athletes are not far behind, including Rempe, who was born in Calgary. Article content Another tall Canadian making history in the sports world is tennis player Gabriel Diallo. The 23-year-old born in Montreal, Que., stands at six-foot-eight and became the fourth Canadian ATP Tour Champion this century, in June 2025. Article content In the NBA, 23-year-old Torontonian Zach Edey is considered the tallest player of the 2024-2025 season, at seven-foot-fou. He is playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. Article content At seven-foot-nine, Olivier Rioux, a 19-year-old basketball player from Terrebonne, Que., who is currently playing at the University of Florida in the NCAA, takes the title of world's tallest teen.
CTV News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Pats land Detroit Red Wings prospect in CHL Import Draft
The Regina Pats selected three players in the CHL Import Draft on Wednesday including goaltender Michal Pradel, a Detroit Red Wings prospect. Pradel, 18, was drafted by the Red Wings 75th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. The Pats selected him fourth overall in the import draft. The Slovakia product played the 2024-25 season with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, where he went 9-4-0 with a 2.41 GAA and .899 SV% recording one shutout. Pradel also represented Slovakia at the 2025 World Junior Championship and U18 World Championship where he went 4-3 with a 2.46 GAA and .914 SV%. Pats' general manager Dale Derkatch said the organization is excited to have Pradel and is looking forward to bringing him and his family to Regina. 'He's a Detroit Red Wings 2025 third-round draft pick, so not only do we see him as a very good junior goalie, but as an NHL goalie,' Derkatch said in a news release. With the 68th overall pick, the Pats selected 2007 born forward Matyas Ubl from Czechia. Ubl picked up 16 points in 20 games with HC Plzen U20 in 2024-25. The Pats also took 2006 born defenceman Manuel Schams with the 129th overall pick. Schams picked up 16 points in 15 games with Jungadler Mannheim in 2024-25. The Pats open the 2025-26 WHL regular season Sept. 19 in Swift Current. 📰: The Regina Pats made a trio of selections in the 2025 CHL Import Draft! READ🔗: — Regina Pats (@WHLPats) July 2, 2025
