Hockey season can not start soon enough. But here is some good news from the past CHL Import Draft. The Red Deer Rebels made their selection at the 2023 CHL Import Draft, choosing Czech forward Samuel Drancak with the 54th overall pick. Despite seven teams passing on their selection, Drancak was the 47th player chosen. At the age of 17, he had an impressive performance last season with HC Motor České Budějovice in the Czech U17 league, where he emerged as the league’s second leading scorer with 65 points in 34 games, including 17 goals and 48 assists. Drancak also showcased his skills at the U20 level and even played a couple of games in the Czech professional league. Hailing from Strakonice, Czechia, he also participated in the 2022 World U17 Hockey Challenge. Rebels Associate General Manager expressed excitement about Drancak’s addition to the team, emphasizing his two-way play and skill. With each CHL team allowed two import players, the Rebels’ previous import selection, Frantisek Formanek, will be returning for his third season. The Rebels’ preference in this draft was a forward, but with their late pick, they remained open to various possibilities. The team’s goal is to improve their roster and they were even open to taking a chance on a high-profile player who might join next year. Furthermore, the Rebels announced that Formanek and Vojtech Port, their previous import selections, will attend the Czechia junior team camp, while several players from last season’s team are attending NHL development camps.
