A look back on wheat kings import draft history
The Brandon Wheat Kings selected Slovakian defenceman Adam Belusko with their first-round pick (41st overall) in the 2024 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
The 5-foot-11 Belusko, played for Slovakia at the U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in both 2022 and 2023 along with an appearance in this year's U18 World Championship.
The left-shot blueliner had 13 assists in 11 games with Reprezentacia SR U18 this season, and six assists in six games with the U20 club Kosice.
Belusko will now join a new-look experienced Wheaties D-corps including Luke Shipley, former WHL Bantam Draft first rounder Quinn Mantei, Rhett Ravndahl, and recent Columbus Blue Jackets second round pick Charlie Elick.
Belusko is expected to come over to Brandon next season and may be competing for a spot with rookies including their 2023 first round pick Giorgos Pantelas and 2022 third rounder Emerson Clark.
Belusko will be expected to provide some extra experience with overage defenceman Andrei Maliavan being waived by the club after two seasons.
This year's Import Draft featured the reinstatement of Russian and Belarusian players, who were made eligible to be selected again for the first time since 2021.
A Look Back at Past Wheat Kings Import Drafts
In past years the Wheat Kings have hit it out of the park with their import picks - some coming over to Wheat City and some deciding to stay in their country to play out their junior careers.
Ivan Provorov (first round, 30th overall, 2014) - Career Stats GP: 122 G: 36 A: 98 PTS: 134
An all-time fan favorite in Wheat City spent two seasons with the club before being selected seventh overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by ex-Wheat King and former Flyers GM Ron Hextall.
Provorov proved to be a key part in the Wheat Kings team that won the 2015/16 WHL Championship before falling short in the Memorial Cup in Red Deer.
The now 27-year-old has had a solid NHL career with both the Flyers and now the Blue Jackets, putting up 249 points in 614 games. His best NHL season came in his second year where he registered 41 points in 82 games.
Jiri Patera (second round, 104th, 2018) - Career Stats GP:89 SV%:.913 GAA:2.95 46-32-5-4
The first ever European goalie in franchise history, Jiri Patera hasn’t stopped pushing his way up the ranks since leaving Brandon.
Patera took over the crease after the departure of two of the best in franchise history: Jordan Papirny and Logan Thompson. He had a great two seasons with the Wheaties before joining the same franchise Thompson did, the Vegas Golden Knights.
Drafted by Vegas in the sixth round the year before coming over to Brandon, Patera has proven himself to be quite the professional goalie. Appearing in eight career NHL games to this point in his career with a .902 save percentage, Patera has spent most of his pro career with the Henderson Silver Knights and has put up great numbers on a weaker AHL team.
Patera most recently signed a contract with the Vancouver Canucks and will look for some time in the NHL next season.
Rihards Bukarts (first round, 7th overall, 2013) - Career Stats GP:192 G:92 A:98 PTS:190
Another fan favorite in Brandon, Rihards Bukarts came over from Latvia and was a part of some very exciting Wheat Kings teams.
Bukarts played parts of three seasons in Brandon putting up very good numbers playing with the likes of Ryan Pulock, Jayce Hawryluk, Tim McGauly, John Quenneville and was on the 2015/16 championship team before being shipped to Portland 10 games into the season.
It wasn't an easy decision, as then-GM Kelly McCrimmon had to decide on who to keep and let go out of Brandon's four overagers. McCrimmon elected to keep 2014-15 WHL Eastern Conference Player of the Year Tim McGauly.
Bukarts never turned pro in North America but has had quite the career played between Russia, Czechia, Germany, Austria and Switzerland's top leagues. Bukarts also regularly suits up for the Latvian National team with his brother Roberts Bukarts.
Toni Rajala (first round, 14th overall, 2009) - Career Stats GP:60 G:26 A:37 PTS:63
Playing one season in Brandon, Rajala was a huge part of the 2010 Wheat Kings team that hosted the Memorial Cup at the Keystone Centre featuring the likes of Brayden Schenn, Mark Stone, Matt Calvert, Colby Robak and Micheal Ferland.
Rajala returned to his home country of Finland after the 2009/10 Memorial Cup loss, after being selected in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
Rajala never ended up playing in the NHL, playing one season in North America split between the ECHL (38 points in 29 games) and the AHL (45 points in 46 games). Rajala was one of the most skilled players to ever come through Brandon, but has played the last eight seasons in Switzerland with Biel HC.
Rajala also played three years for Finland at the World Juniors Championship between 2009 and 2011 and suited up in the Olympics for Finland in 2022.
Brandon has also taken longshot picks on players who never came over to Brandon but did turn pro. A few of those players include:
Erik Brannstrom (first round, 44th, 2018)
Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche
Career NHL Stats - GP:266 G:7 A:62 PTS:69
Thomas Vanek (first round, 25th, 2001)
Buffalo Sabers, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets
Career NHL Stats - GP:1,029 G:373 A:416 PTS:789
Oliver Kylington (first round, 60th, 2015)
Calgary Flames, Current Unrestricted Free Agent
Career NHL Stats - GP:201 G:17 A:38 PTS:55
Martin Kaut (first round, 24th, 2017)
Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks
Career NHL Stats - GP:56 G:6 A:5 PTS:11
Comments