Clouston offers insight on Russian, Kazakhstani draft picks; Tomek’s future

The Dallas Stars selected Cherepanov in Round 7 of the NHL Draft last weekend, a pick that was consequential to the future of his junior career.

Tom Gaglardi owns the Stars and is majority owner of the Blazers.

Clouston said he learned the NHL club would be pleased if Cherepanov developed on Mark Recchi Way and the Russian’s agent confirmed interest in the WHL route.

“He’s an offensive guy,” Clouston said. “He’s a good skater. He’s rangy, with good puck skills and good vision.”

Clouston said he received favourable intel from Stars’ amateur scout Rob Grillo.

“[Grillo] talked to him after games, talked to his coaches and says he’s really competitive,” Clouston said. “He’s a hard-working player, the type of player who shows up early, stays late. He [Grillo] talked about a game where he didn’t know it, but he broke his hand and just iced it in between shifts and finished the game. He said he’s gritty. He’s tough. Rob talked about some leadership qualities. According to the coaches, he had good presence.”

Cherepanov is committed to play NCAA Division One hockey with Lake Superior State University in 2027-2028, but Clouston is not stamping out hope for a multi-season tenure with the Blazers.

“If he has an unbelievable year and he’s ready and the school – the schools because they can change their commitment – is all over him, it might be hard to keep these players,” Clouston said. “We found that out. And yet, maybe Dallas is really happy with his development. In a perfect world, he makes the adjustment, helps this year and comes back for one more.”

No Russian has toiled for the Blazers since Roman Teslyuk, who played for Kamloops from 2003 to 2006.

Kravchenko shares an agent (Max Giese) with J.P. Hurlbert, the Blazers’ graduate who was picked by the Detroit Red Wings in Round 1 of the NHL Draft on Friday.

Clouston said the relationship with Giese – and plenty of homework from Blazers’ staff members – helped to spur interest in the left-shot Kazahkstani.

“His numbers weren’t high end, so we didn’t necessarily see him as a first-round pick,” Clouston said, noting Kravchenko likely weighs about 180 pounds.

“He plays a direct style. We’ve seen him mostly at centre. He supports pucks. He’s available for passes, distributes pucks. He would remind me of Fraser Minten, with the way he’s available and open.”

Yegor Kravchenko. (Image Credit: Kamloops Blazers)

Kravchenko played for Kazakhstan at the 2025 Division One World Under-18 Hockey Championship, posting four goals and eight points in five games.

Last season, he had four goals and 10 points in 47 games with Snezhnye Barsy Astana of Olimpbet Molodyozhnaya Hokkeinaya Liga (MHL), a major junior league in Eurasia that features teams from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

The MHL (often considered Russia’s version of the CHL) is a feeder circuit for the Kontinental Hockey League.

Forward Vit Zahejsky of Czechia rounds out the Blazers’ import trio.

Petr Tomek of Czechia remains on the club’s protected list, but is expected to start the 2026-2027 season in the top Czech pro league, according to Clouston.

“This is now his draft year,” Clouston said. “If everything goes according to plan and he’s moving up in the rankings, he probably stays. If something goes a little bit sideways, we’ve seen the Czechs leave. I think there’s still a chance at some point, but we’re not counting on it. It doesn’t cost us anything to keep them on our protected list.”

by Marty Hastings

Clouston offers insight on Russian, Kazakhstani draft picks; Tomek’s future

Our Community