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Victoria Royals target a forward in today’s import draft, but will pick 54th

The annual Canadian Hockey League import draft is the biggest crap shoot in junior hockey.

The annual Canadian Hockey League import draft is the biggest crap shoot in junior hockey. 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, with the 2014 draft for that taking place today.

The Victoria Royals are selecting 54th and really don’t know what to bargain on. Don’t expect a Leon Draisaitl, the forward from Cologne, Germany, who played for the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL and was selected third overall last week by the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL draft.

“I don’t know how big it’s going to be for us with the 54 selection,” admitted Royals GM Cam Hope, whose club picks so low because of its successful 2013-14 WHL season (48-20-4).

“We have some players on our radar but I’m not sure if they will fall to us,” he said.

“This [import] draft is a crazy thing. You have to trust the agents and the people you know in Europe.”

The Royals are targeting an import forward.

“Our defence is excellent and it would be hard to picture an import cracking that unit,” said Hope.

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-age 20-year-old in junior, has likely played his last game for the Royals and is expected to sign a pro contract with his hometown Plzen team in the Czech Republic.

That means returnee Coleman Vollrath is poised to skate into the starting role in the Royals’ crease next season.

“We retain Polivka’s [junior] rights but he’s locked in with Plzen,” said Hope.

Lanky forward Blomqvist, who is signed by the Winnipeg Jets, will return to Victoria if not assigned to minor pro by the Jets.

Blomqvist is among a group of Royals who will skate in NHL development training camps this summer. Joining him are forward Steven Hodges, who is signed by the Florida Panthers, defenceman Keegan Kanzig, signed by the Calgary Flames, and forward Austin Carroll is a Flames draft pick.

Royals receiving free-agent invites to rookie camps are defencemen Travis Brown to the New York Rangers and Joe Hicketts to the Detroit Red Wings and forward Brandon Magee to his hometown Edmonton Oilers.

Hodges has the best shot to stick in the pros. But the overall situation leaves Victoria’s WHL roster for next season in some flux, especially during the early season when some players may still be in pro camps before being sent back to junior.

“We have lots of balls in the air,” Hope said.

ICE CHIPS: Graduated Royals forward Logan Nelson has received a free-agent invitation to the Rangers’ rookie camp.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com