Looking back at some of the greatest OHL players to come out of the CHL Import Draft
The CHL Import Draft is set to take place at 11am EST on Jul. 3. The Import Draft is an annual event where teams from the three CHL leagues draft European players.
The Erie Otters selected Martin Misiak first overall in the 2023 CHL Import Draft and had a good, not great, one-and-done season in the OHL recording 23 goals and 47 points in 60 games.
One other OHL team had great success out of an import player this past season in Sudbury Wolves' Dalibor Dvorsky, originally selected in the second round, 68th overall by the team in the 2022 CHL Import Draft.
The Windsor Spitfires are the first OHL team to make a selection, holding the third-overall pick after the Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) and Kamloops Blazers (WHL) pick first and second.
In honor of the CHL Import Draft taking place today, we went back and looked at five of the best European import players who went on to have amazing impacts in their OHL careers.
1. F, Vitali Yachmenyov - North Bay Centennials (1993-95)
The North Bay Centennials hit a gold mine in the second-ever CHL Import Draft in 1993 when they drafted Russian winger Vitali Yachmenyov sixth overall.
As an 18-year-old (who turned 19 during the season), Yachmenyov scored 61 goals and 113 points in 66 games in his first year for the Centennials in 1993-94. He was named the CHL Rookie of the Year as he led the OHL in goals that season and added another 13 snipes and 32 points in the playoffs.
In the following season, he was a man-on-a-mission again, registering 53 goals and 105 points in 59 games, while also playing and winning silver with Russia at the World Juniors in the same year. Yachmenyov won the OHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year Award that season.
Vitali holds the highest point-per-game (1.74) amongst all Import players in OHL history. Also, as per eliteprospects.com, Yachmenyon was an assistant coach for the North Bay Trappers U18 AAA team last year.
2. F, Sergei Kostitsyn - London Knights (2005-2007)
Number two on our list is the former 91 assist man with the London Knights, Belarussian forward Sergei Kostitsyn.
Kostitsyn was selected in the first round, 57th overall by London in the 2005 draft, and made his mark on the OHL specifically in the 2006 playoffs. After leading OHL rookies in points with 78, he finished second on the team in post-season scoring with 37 points in 19 games, behind Robbie Schremp.
He followed up his amazing playoffs and rookie season by posting an incredible 91 assists and 131 points in 2006-07 and was named to the OHL's third all-star team at the end of the season.
3. G, Philipp Grubauer - Belleville Bulls/Windsor Spirfites/Kingston Frontenacs
(2008-2011)
Finding a goaltender to lead your team in the upcoming season is a common tactic OHL teams use when approaching the CHL Import Draft. And a specific German goaltender showcased why that is.
Philipp Grubauer was originally drafted 25th overall by the Belleville Bulls in 2008. His first year posed challenges (17 games, 3.93 GAA, .888 SV%) but he bounced back in the 2009-10 season after being acquired by the Windsor Spitfires to serve as their No. 1 goaltender in their quest for a Championship.
Windsor's quest was a success, with many thanks to the play in net by Grubauer who went 16-1-1 in the playoffs.
It didn't end there, however. Windsor went on to win the 2010 Memorial Cup and Grubauer was even better, going a flawless 4-0 and recording a 2.14 goals-against average and an outstanding .930 save percentage.
The German netminder finished his OHL career in Kingston during the 2010-11 season.
4. F, Marco Rossi - Ottawa 67's (2018-2020)
Marco Rossi helped change the Ottawa 67's back into a winning team when he was brought on after being selected 18th overall in the 2018 draft.
Rossi was named to the OHL's second all-rookie team after putting up 65 points in 53 games in 2018-19. He added another 22 points in 17 playoff games and just like Kostitsyn, raised his value in the league through his performance in big games.
The Austrian forward had 81 assists, 120 points, and was a plus-69 before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the OHL in the 2019-2020 season. Although he couldn't one-up his previous playoff performance, Rossi took home the league's regular season MVP trophy and was the CHL's top scorer.
Rossi was far and away the best player in the OHL that season, dominating every single shift, and there's a good chance that he and Ottawa would have won the OHL Championship if it wasn't for the pandemic.
5. G, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - Sudbury Wolves (2018-19)
The current Buffalo Sabres goaltender, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen only played one season in the OHL, but it was very memorable.
The Sudbury Wolves needed a goaltender for the 2018-19 season. So, they drafted UPL out of Finland third overall in the same import draft as Marco Rossi. The Wolves have not been able to find a netminder that could hold down the fort the way UPL could.
In the 2018-19 season, the Finnish goalie played 53 games and achieved a record of 38-11-4 with a 2.50 goals-against average, a league-best .920 save percentage, and six shutouts.
UPL was not only named the OHL's Goaltender of the Year, but he also received the Red Tilson Trophy for regular season MVP, making him the third and so far last goaltender to win that honor.