The Victoria Royals said they are pleasantly surprised that Slovakian U-18 national team winger Kristian Ferletak fell to them with the 54th pick Wednesday in the annual Canadian Hockey League import draft.
“He came onto our radar late last season and was on our list,” said Royals GM Cam Hope, expressing surprise Ferletak was there for the taking so late in the draft.
The five-foot-10, 181-pound native of Trstena, Slovakia, scored nine goals and added 23 assists with 72 penalty minutes in 44 games in 2013-14 with the Slovakian U-18 team. He scored two goals in five games at the 2014 IIHF U-18 world championships.
The season previous, Ferletak scored six goals and had 21 assists in 27 games for HC Banska Bystrica of the Slovakian U-18 league.
“He’s a good skater who brings energy to the game and goes into tough areas,” said Hope.
“He was the best skater on the Slovakian U-18 team.”
Each of the 60 CHL teams through the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior League are allowed to carry two import players.
The Royals picked so low because of their successful 2013-14 WHL season (48-20-4).
The Royals’ two imports last season were forward Axel Blomqvist from Sweden and goaltender Patrik Polivka from the Czech Republic.
But Polivka, who would be an overage-20-year-old in junior next season, is expected to sign a pro contract with his hometown Plzen team in the Czech Republic.
Blomqvist, who is signed by the Winnipeg Jets to an NHL contract, will return to Victoria if not assigned to minor pro by the Jets.
