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Whalers select 16-year-old in CHL Import Draft
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After making a pair of trades to move up in today’s annual Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, Plymouth President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci selected 16-year-old Swedish forward Gabriel Landeskog with the third overall selection in the Import Draft.
Landeskog – who turns 17 in November – quickly moved up the ranks of the Swedish Elite League last season. After scoring four goals with five assists for nine points and a +12 rating in five games early last year for Djurgarden IF of the Swedish Elite Junior-18 League, Landeskog was promoted to Djurgarden’s team in the Swedish Super Elite Junior-20 League, where he scored 7 goals with 14 assists for 21 points and was +15 in 31 games.
Landeskog was then promoted to Djurgarden’s professional team in the Swedish Elite League, making his debut on Feb. 21, 2009 as the youngest player (16 years and 90 days) in Djurgarden’s history to play in the Swedish Elite League and one of the youngest players ever to play in the league.
Landeskog played very well in three International tournaments for Sweden last season, scoring 13 goals with an assist for 14 points in 20 games. After scoring four goals in six games for Team Sweden in the World Under-18 Championships this past spring, Landeskog was voted one of his team’s three top players.
Plymouth also had the 39th selection in today’s CHL Import Draft, but Vellucci traded the pick to Sudbury in exchange for the Wolves’ fifth round choice in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League Draft.
Canadian Hockey League teams can play two imports at a time. Plymouth’s quota is now filled with Landeskog and veteran defenseman Michal Jordan, a Carolina Hurricanes-draft who is returning for his third season with the Whalers.
Vellucci made two trades to move up to the third overall position in the CHL Import Draft. First, Vellucci acquired the sixth pick overall from the Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for overage right wing Kaine Geldart, a third round selection in the 2011 OHL Draft and a fifth round selection in the 2011 OHL Draft.
Then, Vellucci acquired the third pick – along with defenseman Kevin Albers (Lake Orion, MI) – from Sault Ste. Marie in exchange for the sixth pick in the Import Draft and veteran forward Vern Cooper.
Landeskog is expected to report to Plymouth’s training in late August. Plymouth’s first preseason game is Sat. Aug. 29 against Saginaw in Brighton, MI. The Whalers open the season on Thurs. Sept. 17 in Windsor, with the home opener on Sat. Sept. 19 at Compuware Arena against Oshawa.
For information on Whalers ticket packages or to plan a group event, visit plymouthwhalers.com or call 734-453-8400.
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