Tomas Poletin, an 18-year-old Prague-born forward listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, was chosen first overall in the 2025 CHL Import Draft by the Kelowna Rockets. Poletin scored 13 goals and totaled 20 points in 25 U20 games with Finland's Pelicans and appeared in 15 professional games across Liiga and the Champions Hockey League. He captained Czechia's under-18 team at the IIHF World Championship and earned silver at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with three goals and an assist. Drafted 106th overall by the New York Islanders in 2025, he brings a powerful shot, physical edge, and potential top-six upside. He is expected to join Kelowna after Islanders training camp for their Sept. 19 opener.
Tomas Poletin, 18, the team's fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, was chosen first overall in the 2025 CHL Import Draft by the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL). What's the CHL Import Draft? It's an annual event where every team in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) can select the rights to eligible import players. An "import" is classified as a player who does not have residency status in either Canada or the United States.
The Prague-born forward, listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, spent last season with Finland's Pelicans team, where he posted 13 goals and 20 points in 25 games for their U20 squad. He also saw 15 games of action at the professional level between the Liiga and Champions Hockey League. Internationally, Poletin captained Czechia's under-18 team at the IIHF World Championship and later helped secure silver at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with three goals and an assist.
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