Blazers sign both import draft picks

KAMLOOPS — The two players taken by the Blazers in last month’s CHL Import Draft have signed with the team. 

2001-born forward Martin Lang and 2001-born defenseman Joonas Sillanpää have ensured they will be in Kamloops for training camp in August. Lang is a 165-pound forward from the Czech Republic, the country he’ll represent in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton from Aug. 6-11. He played with the HC Plzen U-18 team last year and was their top scorer with 37 goals and 22 assists in 35 games.

The Finnish Sillanpää stands at 6’5” and weighs 181 pounds. He played this past season with HIFK U-18 and U-20 teams in Helsinki where he had two goals and six assists in 43 games.

“We are excited that both Martin and Joonas will be joining the Blazers organization this coming season,” said Blazers GM Matt Bardsley. “Both players will be great additions to our lineup and we look forward to watching their game develop while in Kamloops.”