Warriors select Honejsek in CHL Import Draft
MATTHEW GOURLIE
The Moose Jaw Times Herald
The Moose Jaw Warriors selected Antonin Honejsek from HC Zlin in the Czech Under-20 Extraliga with their first pick in Tuesdays Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
The Warriors owned the second overall selection in the draft, but traded that pick to the Portland Winterhawks for Portlands fourth round WHL Bantam Draft pick in 2010, their sixth round pick in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft and Portlands fifth overall pick in the Import Draft. They used that fifth overall pick on Honejsek.
Were very happy about that, when youre talking a top five pick, youre looking to obtain some draft choices and we did that, said Warriors director of hockey operations Jeff Truitt. We thought that our player was still going to be available at No. 5 and we were fortunate that we could get him at No. 5.
Honejsek had 21 goals and 23 assists in 40 games for HC Zlin. The 5-11, 176-pound left winger also tallied four goals and added two assists in six games at the IIHF World Under-18 Championships in Fargo, N.D. this past spring.
We had a few players we were looking at, but he was definitely the one we were zeroing in on, said Warriors director of hockey operations Jeff Truitt. Hes a very skilled forward. He was tied for the team scoring lead in Fargo at the Under-18 and that just shows the impact he can have on a team.
A late, 1991-born player, Honejsek is eligible for the 2010 National Hockey League draft. He has represented the Czech Republic at the Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 levels.
The Warriors next pick in the Import Draft will come when they make the 53rd overall selection at 4:10 p.m. The Warriors acquired that first round pick in an earlier trade with the Brandon Wheat Kings.