The Regina Pats have selected Joakim Kemell with the 32nd pick in the first round of the CHL Import draft.
Kemell is a Finnish right winger, who put up 36 points in 38 games with JYP Jyvaskyla in the Finnish Under 20 league in the 2020/21 season.
In round two the Pats selected Swedish LW Alexander Suzdalev.
Suzdalev put up five points in eight games with HV71 in the Swedish U18 league last season, that included time with Pats superstar Connor Bedard.
General Manager John Paddock says after taking defenceman Stanislav Svozil in last year’s expansion draft, he’s confident there will be two Europeans on the roster.
“I guess it’s possible we have none, but I don’t think that’s likely,” Paddock said. “I feel very good about Stanislav, but these forwards we’re just going to continue our work on them, recruiting on them and see where that goes the next three months.”
Paddock says the CHL is currently working with the federal government to ensure players can cross the border by the time the season starts.
“Of course, COVID can play a factor, but I think with the slightly different visa situations — and I don’t know that for sure — but with CFL players coming across to play here and otherwise, I think that things are getting closer to normalcy as far as our hockey players getting into the country.”
The WHL regular season starts October 1 when the Pats visit the Prince Albert Raiders. They’ll have their home-opener the next evening.
