Winterhawks add impact Swiss player in draft

The Portland Winterhawks believe they landed an impact player in Tuesday’s Canadian Hockey Leagues import draft.

Trading up into the No. 2 overall pick, the Winterhawks selected Swiss forward Nino Niederreiter.

Portland coach and general manager Mike Johnston said the 17-year-old has agreed to join the Winterhawks this season.

"I think he’s going to be good this year. And he’ll have the opportunity to grow along with some of our other young players," Johnston said.

Johnston first saw Niederreiter while coaching Team Canada in the Under-18 World Championships in May. He thought enough of the forward — who has not yet turned 17 — that the Winterhawks traded two future bantam draft picks to Moose Jaw for the right to move from No. 5 to No. 2 in the CHL Import Draft.

"He’s a 6-1, 200-pound forward that has good speed," Johnston said. "He plays a fairly aggressive game. He’s a good all around hockey player."

Niederreiter, had 12 points in six games with the Davos Under-18 team in the Swiss Elite Novizen League last season. He moved up to the Davos U-20 team in the Elite Junior A League, where he totaled 20 goals and 14 assists in 30 games. For the Swiss team at this year’s Under-18 World Championship, he scored three goals and three assists in six games.

"He’ll join our other 1992-born players, including Keith Hamilton, Daniel Johnston, Joe Morrow, Taylor Peters, Brad Ross and Troy Rutkowski in forming a young core that will grow together and lead this team in the years to come," Johnston said.

Portland selected Swedish left winger Jacob Berglund with their second round pick.

Berglund played last season with Malmo in Sweden, and in 55 total games with the Under-18, Under-20 and Swedish 1 leagues, registered 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 total points.

Each team in the CHL is permitted to carry two European players. Players are dispersed to teams in the Western Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Ontario Hockey League through the annual import draft.

The Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL took Russian forward Stanislav Galiev with the No. 1 pick.