CHL Import Draft kicks off today

The 2015 CHL Import Draft kicks off today at 12 p.m. ADT.

As per The Guardian newspaper, the Islanders will be passing on their 28th overall pick and will go with Filip Chlapik and Filip Rydstrom as the team's import players for the upcoming 2015-16 season.

This year, Acadie-Bathurst Titan holds the first overall pick followed by WHL's Saskatoon Blades and then OHL's Sudbury Wolves.

The Charlottetown Islanders drafted both Chlapik and Rydstrom during last year's Import Draft.

Full draft list can be seen here.

Islanders name Hulton as team's new bench boss

The Charlottetown Islanders have named Jim Hulton as its new head coach, the team announced today.

Hulton, 46, previously coached the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the last two seasons. The Kingston, Ont., native had a combined 54-51 record with a .514 winning percentage. This past season, Hulton coached the Storm to a 37-17-6 finish and was named USHL General Manager of the Year in 2015.

In a team press release, Islanders General Manager Grant Sonier said the team went through a long process of narrowing down the candidates.

“Jim brings with him an impressive resume and experience at all levels. He is a motivator, a teacher, and a guy that we think can bring this team to the next level.”

In the same release, Hulton said he is thrilled to be heading to Charlottetown.

“It is a team that is full of high quality talent, which includes several NHL draft picks and is coming off a very successful year. When I interviewed with Grant for the first time it felt like a natural conversation; combining that and my history with Assistant Coach Connor Cameron it felt like a really good fit.”

Handful of Islanders to attend NHL development camps

 Five Charlottetown Islanders players will attend NHL development camps this summer.

Daniel Sprong, Filip Chlapik, Kameron Kielly, Alexandre Goulet and David Henley will all attend development camps.

Sprong and Kielly will be attending the development camp of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sprong was Pittsburgh's 46th overall selection in 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old, Amsterdamn, Netherlands, native scored 39 goals and 88 points in 68 games this season.

Kielly, 18, went undrafted but received a call from the Penguins on Saturday to attend their development camp. Kielly scored 16 goals and 49 points in 67 games, maintaining a plus-one rating.

Kielly announced the news via Twitter.

Not the result I was looking for but still a great day with family and friends and excited to be heading to @penguins camp!

— Kameron Kielly (@Kielly11) June 27, 2015

Only two Islanders players taken in NHL Draft

Filip Chlapik and Daniel Sprong. Photo from Pittsburgh Penguins Instagram.

Only two Charlottetown Islanders players were drafted into the NHL this weekend.

Daniel Sprong and Filip Chlapik were the only two players from the Islands, out of a possible five, to hear their names called Saturday June 27, 2015 in Sunrise, Fla.

Both Sprong and Chlapik were second round picks and just two picks apart.

Pittsburgh Penguins photo.

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Sprong with the 46th overall selection. Sprong, 18, was ranked as the 20th overall North American skater in Central Scouting's final rankings. The Amsterdam, Netherlands native was Pittsburgh's first selection of the draft. Pittsburgh had four picks through seven rounds. Sprong led the Islanders in scoring for a second straight season, scoring 39 goals and 88 points in 68 games.

Two selections later, the Ottawa Senators grabbed forward Filip Chlapik with the 48th overall pick. Chlapik was ranked as the 18th overall amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting's final rankings. Chlapik, 18, finished his QMJHL rookie season with 33 goals and 75 points in 64 games. The Prague, Czech Republic native's 33 goals and 75 points set a new franchise record for most goals and points in a season by a rookie.

Unfortunately for Islanders players Kameron Kielly, David Henley and Alexandre Goulet, they were not selected.

Kielly, 18, was ranked 83rd, Henley was ranked 95th and Goulet was ranked 166th.

Islanders Country Exclusive: The Sprong Show Highlight Video

Welcome to the exclusive premier of The Sprong Show, a video edited by Nathan A'Hearn.
 


The Sprong Show - Daniel Sprong from Nathan A'Hearn on Vimeo.

Copyright infringement not intended.

The Sprong Show Trailer

Welcome to an Islanders Country exclusive for a trailer of "The Sprong Show."

The Sprong Show is a video edited by Islanders Country's own Nathan A'Hearn who has put together a highlight package of never before seen clips of NHL draft prospect Daniel Sprong.

The full length video will be premiered exclusively on Islanders Country tomorrow at 11 a.m. ADT.

*Copyright infringement not intended*

Islanders Country 2015 NHL Mock Draft

Daniel Sprong. Photo by Darrell Theriault

To get prepared for the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft on Friday, Islanders Country has joined the party and have done a mock draft of our own.

Like every other mock draft, Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel go No. 1 and 2 respectively. In our mock draft, third-ranked North American skater Noah Hanifin falls as low as fifth overall.

Charlottetown Islanders forward Daniel Sprong is selected 24th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs by both Nolan and Nathan. Sprong is ranked 20th overall for North American skaters. Filip Chlapik, ranked 18th overall, does not make our first round picks, but does receive an honourable mention.

Other Islanders players Kameron Kielly, David Henley and Alexandre Goulet are expected to be drafted on Saturday in later rounds.

The first round of the NHL draft is Friday at 7 p.m. EST in Sunrise, Fla. Rounds 2-7 will conclude on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. EST.