Barrie Colts select top prospect Andrei Svechnikov first in CHL Import Draft

Barrie Colts

The Barrie Colts used their first overall selection in the CHL Import Draft to select Russian centre Andrei Svechnikov, a top prospect for the 2018 NHL Draft.

Svechnikov, 17, comes to the Colts after recording 29 goals and 58 points in 48 games with Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League.

Svechnikov had a banner international season for Russia. He set a tournament record at the World Junior A Challenge with eight goals in just four games. He led the event with 12 points, too.

The six-foot-two, 188-pound forward also had eight points in four games at the world under-17 tournament and nine points in seven contests at the under-18 event.

The Colts, who finished with an OHL-worst 17-44-6-1 record, will welcome Svechnikov to their lineup. They scored 192 goals this past season, tied with the North Bay Battalion for second last in the league.

In other import news, the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs selected Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Timothy Liljegren 13th overall. The Swedish defenceman was chosen 17th by the Toronto Maple Leafs in last Friday’s NHL Draft.

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