(Guelph, ON) -- Seven M&T Clients, including three of the top 13, were selected in the 2021 CHL Import Draft held on Wednesday morning.
17-year old defenseman Rayan Bettahar (Mannheim, GER) was selected 5th overall by the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League. The 6-2, 207 lbs. blueliner was born in Poland but grew up in Germany. He played for Jungadler Mannheim Jr. club this past season in Germany.
With the 8th overall selection the WHL's Vancouver Giants tabbed 6-3, 176 lbs. goaltender Jesper Vikman (Stockholm, SWE) from the AIK program. The 19-year old Vikman was a 5th round selection last summer by the NHL Vegas Golden Knights. He played with the AIK program this past season.
16-year old Austrian centerman Jonas Taibel (Feldkirch, AUT) was chosen 13th overall by the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. The 5-11, 172 lbs. pivot is a product of the Rapperswill program in Switzerland and spent time with both their U20 and U17 teams in 2020-21.
The Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League used the 58th pick to select left winger Kevin Niedenz (Berlin, GER). The 6-0, 150 lbs. 18-year old split the 20-21 season between Kolner Haie U20's and Bad Nauheim U17s.
2021 World Junior star goalie Sebastian Wraneschitz (Wien, AUT) was tabbed at pick 60 by the WHL Victoria Royals. The 5-10, 165 lbs. tender had a standout season with the Vienna Capitals of the ICE Hockey League and provided a heroic performance at the World Junior Championships for his native Austria.
The WHL Winnipeg ICE used the 65th selection to claim 17-year old defenseman Maximilian Streule (Zurich, SUI) of the GCK Lions from the Swiss Junior League. The 5-11, 172 lbs. left-shot blueliner picked up 13 points in 28 games this past season with the U20 Lions.
With the 69th pick, the OHL's Guelph Storm selected defenseman Leo Hafenrichter (Nurnberg, GER) from the Kolner Junghaie program in Cologne. He is a 6-0, 172 lbs. mobile defenseman who is expected to step into the Storm lineup this season.