Latvian goaltender Ivans Kufterins, who was selected 17th overall by the Kamloops Blazers as part of the Wednesday morning CHL Import Draft/via Timo Savela
The Kamloops Blazers have added a Latvian goaltender in the opening round of the CHL Import Draft.
They’ve selected 18 year-old G Ivans Kufterins – regarded as the best goaltender in his age group in a country that’s developed strong goaltenders the last number of years.
He was the 13th overall selection by the Blazers in the Wednesday morning Import Draft.
Listed at 6’2”, Kufterins played for Latvia at the World U-18 Hockey Championships where he went 1-4 with a 4.64 GAA and an .847 save percentage.
It gives the Blazers an 18 year-old tandem with Kufterins and returnee Logan Edmonstone.
“He’s a talented goaltender. He skates well, he can make saves with his hands, he’s very competitive,” Blazers Director of Goaltending Dan De Palma told Radio NL after the selection was made. “He looks pretty coachable and good hockey IQ as per our homework we did. He checks all the boxes for us.”
It also creates a battle in the crease heading into training camp.
“To be honest with you it just creates competition…we’re excited about that,” said De Palma. “We like where we put ourselves here.”
“We felt we needed to add some extra depth at an older age,” he added.
Other than Logan Edmonstone, only 17 year-old Madex Kabrud in the Blazers system has played a WHL game.
The Blazers last took a goaltender in the 2023 CHL Import Draft when they selected Michael Schnattinger.
He appeared in nine games before being re-assigned.
Czech forward Petr Tomek, who was selected by the Kamloops Blazers with their second pick in the 2025 CHL Import Draft Wednesday morning/via Nikola Krizova
In the 2nd round, the Blazers leaned towards offense and pointed their compass toward central Europe.,
Kamloops, with 74th overall selection among overseas prospects, selected 2008 born, 17-year-old Czech Petr Tomek.
The skilled forward played as an underage for Team Czechia at the World Under 18 Hockey Championships in Texas.
He put up 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points in 23 regular season games for Karlovy Vary U17.
He added 9 goals and 7 assists in 13 playoff games last season as well.
There is no indication whether he plans to join the Blazers in the fall or stick things out with is club team.
The Blazers do expect forward Vit Zahejsky to return for his 18 year-old season.
Zahejsky, who missed the first part of last season with a broken ankle, was passed over at this year’s NHL Entry Draft.
This season ahead, CHL teams can dress three import players for the first time – an increase of one.
