Dogs select Russian forward in Import Draft

The Sea Dogs selected a Russian forward with their first round pick in Tuesday’s CHL Import Draft.

With the 42^nd overall pick – although two teams above them passed – Saint John picked 17-year-old Alexander Vdovenko. He recorded nine goals and 24 points in 34 games last season with the Vityaz Podolsk under-17 team in Russia.

Welcome to the Sea Dogs Alexander Vdovenko! pic.twitter.com/eHJLr7cghN

— Anthony Stella (@A_Stellaa) June 28, 2016

According to a Sea Dogs press release, the Moscow native is 6'4" and 200 lbs. He plays centre and left wing.

"We're excited to bring Alexander into our organization," Sea Dogs general manager Darrell Young said in a release. "He's a smart, skilled, strong forward. He moves very well for a player of his size. We want to see how his game translates to North American ice."

Vdovenko is expected to join the team for training camp in August. The Sea Dogs currently have two import players on their roster in Oliver Felixson and Jakub Zboril. CHL teams are allowed to carry two imports.

The Sea Dogs didn’t use their second round pick. It’s the first time the team has drafted a forward since Nikita Li in 2014.

The WHL’s Kootenay Ice selected Russian forward Klim Kostin with the first overall pick. The Halifax Mooseheads made a splash with the sixth overall pick, taking Swiss forward Nico Hischier, who is known as the “Swiss McDavid.”

Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News has a good breakdown on the big picks from this year’s Import Draft.