MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Tigers have made their first pick in the 2018 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
The Tigers drafted goaltender Mads Sogaard from Denmark with the 32nd pick in the draft Thursday morning.
For the first time since 2013, goaltenders are eligible to be picked in the CHL Import Draft.
Sogaard, 17, spent the 2017-18 season with the Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League. In 22 games, he finished with 11 wins, six regulation losses, two shootout losses and posted a 2.64 goals against average.
He is listed as 6’6” and weighs 212 lbs.
With their second round pick at 92nd overall, the Tigers drafted Russian winger Vasily Podkolzin from the Vityaz Podolsk U17.
Playing in 21 games with Vityaz in 2017-18, Podkolzin netted 13 goals and 30 points in 21 games and was also a point-per-game player at the 2018 World U18 Championships with Russia.
The Tigers will have to decide between two of Sogaard, Podkolzin, and current Swedish defenceman Linus Nassen to bring into the fold for the 2018-19 season in the fall.
