The 2016 CHL Import Draft gets underway at 9 a.m. (Mountain) Tuesday with the Kootenay Ice set to select first overall.
Over more than two decades of European taste-testing, the Ice has selected a total of 23 players, with varying degrees of success, from the likes of the Czech Republic, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Ukraine.
Here’s a look back on history at the CHL Import Draft for the Kootenay/Edmonton Ice.
1996 CHL Import Draft
Dmitri Yakushin (D) Ukraine (Rd 1, third)Played 92 games with Edmonton Ice (4G-24A-28pts); drafted by Toronto Maple Leafs (1996 – Rd 6, 140th)
1997 CHL Import Draft
Patrik Stefan (C) Czech Rep. ((Rd 1, 2nd)Played no games with Edmonton Ice; drafted by Atlanta Thrashers (1999 – Rd 1, first)
1998 CHL Import Draft
Jaroslav Svoboda (RW) Czech Rep. (Rd 1, 7th)Played 110 games with Kootenay Ice (49-76-125); drafted by Carolina Hurricanes (1998 – Rd 8, 208th)
Jaroslav Kalla (LW) Czech Rep. (Rd 1, 56th)Played no games with Kootenay Ice
1999 CHL Import Draft
Petr Zajgla (F) Czech Republic (Rd 1, 21st)Played no games with Kootenay Ice
2000 CHL Import Draft
Marek Svatos (RW) Slovakia (Rd 1, 47th)Played 92 games with Kootenay Ice (61-57-118); drafted by Colorado Avalanche (2001 – Rd 7, 227th)
2001 CHL Import Draft
Tomas Plihal (LW) Czech Republic (Rd 1, 16th)Played 139 games with Kootenay Ice (67-96-163); drafted by San Jose Sharks (2001 – Rd 5, 140th)
2002 CHL Import Draft
Michal Polak (C) Czech Republic (Rd 1, 42nd)Played 58 games with Kootenay Ice (2-5-7)
2003 CHL Import Draft
Martin Sagat (LW) Slovakia (Rd 1, 35th)Played 129 games with Kootenay Ice (28-78-106); drafted by Toronto Maple Leafs (2003 – Rd 3, 91st)
2004 CHL Import Draft
Roman Polak (D) Czech Republic (Rd 1, 19th)Played 65 games with Kootenay Ice (5-18-23); drafted by St. Louis Blues (2004 – Rd 6, 180th)
2005 CHL Import Draft
Lukas Bohunicky (D) Slovakia (Rd 1, 56th)Played 130 games with Kootenay Ice (3-13-16)
Marek Curilla (C) Czech Republic (Rd 2, 71st)Played 41 games with Kootenay Ice (3-14-17)
2006 CHL Import Draft
Arnaud Jacquemet (RW) Switzerland (Rd 1, 47th)Played 115 games with Kootenay Ice (40-42-82)
2007 CHL Entry Draft
Jiri Ryzuk (D) Czech Republic (Rd 1, 57th)Played 45 games with Kootenay Ice (0-0-0)
2008 CHL Import Draft
Dominik Pacovsky (F) Czech Rep. (Rd 1, 45th)Played 114 games with Kootenay Ice (13-35-48)
Ales Frieb (F) Czech Republic (Rd 1, 54th)Played five games with Kootenay Ice (0-0-0)
2009 CHL Import Draft
Petr Senkerik (D) Czech Republic (Rd 1, 38th)Played 36 games with Kootenay Ice (4-7-11)
2012 CHL Import Draft
Petr Vesely (LW) Czech Republic (Rd 1, 29th)Played one game with Kootenay Ice (0-0-0)
Jakub Prochazka (LW) Czech Rep. (Rd 1, 59th)Played 56 games with Kootenay Ice (3-7-10)
2013 CHL Import Draft
Rinat Valiev (D) Russia (Rd 1, 25th)Played 107 games with Kootenay Ice (14-50-64); drafted by Toronto Maple Leafs (2014 – Rd 3, 68th)
2014 CHL Import Draft
Alexander Chirva (C) Russia (Rd 1, 33rd)Played three games with Kootenay Ice (1-0-1)
2015 CHL Import Draft
Roman Dymacek (LW) Czech Republic (Rd 1, 35th)Played 55 games with Kootenay Ice (4-6-10)
Mario Grman (D) Slovakia (Rd 2, 95th)Played 68 games with Kootenay Ice (0-7-7)
*Kootenay Ice passed on selections at 2010 and 2011 CHL Import Drafts
