By Aaron Schulze

Blazers Import Draft

Blazers take a pair of Czech defencemen in 2023 CHL Import Draft

Jul 5, 2023 | 10:00 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Blazers took a pair of left-handed defencemen from Czechia in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft.

With their first-round pick, the Blazers selected Matteo Koci 58^th overall. He scored 20 points (seven goals and 13 assists) with HC Energie Karlovy Vary U20 and added two assists in seven games with their men’s club in Czechia.

In the second round, the Blazers took Vojtech Vochvest 118^th overall. He scored six points (one goal and five assists) with BK Mlada Boleslav U20.

Both Koci and Vochvest suited up in five games for Czechia at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzy Cup – an international U18 tournament. Koci scored a goal and three assists while Vochvest was held scoreless.

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The CHL Import Draft is an annual event where every team in the Western, Ontario and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League may select the rights to eligible import players. An import player is someone who doesn’t have residency status in Canada or the United States.

The Blazers signed both their CHL Import Draft picks in 2022.

The Blazers begin their exhibition schedule at Sandman Centre on Friday, Sept. 8 against the Kelowna Rockets. Kamloops’ home and season opener is Friday, Sept. 22 against the Spokane Chiefs.