Greyhounds add to import possibilities

Exactly who the Soo Greyhounds import players will be when the 2018-19 Ontario Hockey League season begins is still up in the air after the recent Canadian Hockey League import draft.

The team selected a pair of players from the Czech Republic in the two-round draft on Thursday.

In the opening round, the Greyhounds selected Czech winger Roman Pucek, an 18-year-old from the Czech U18 league.

The 6-foot-2, 168-pound forward scored 26 goals and 73 points in 41 games with HC Vsetin U18 last season.

In the second round, the Greyhounds selected 16-year-old forward Jaromir Pytlik.

In 22 games with Sazavou of the Czech3 league, the 6-foot-2, 192-pound winger had 14 goals and 25 points. He also had 13 goals and 36 points in 21 games with Sazavou’s team in the Czech U18 league.

By virtue of their being selected in the opening round of last weekend’s NHL draft, Swedish defenceman Rasmus Sandin and Finnish forward Rasmus Kupari remain on the Greyhounds protected list this summer.

Kupari was selected by the Los Angeles Kings 20th overall while the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Sandin 29th overall.

Much of the talk since the draft has Sandin possibly heading back to Sweden next season after joining the Greyhounds on loan last fall.

Sandin has been quoted as saying he would be looking to play pro in Sweden but the chance of him returning to Sault Ste. Marie would not be out of the question.