Three Golden Knights prospects were selected Thursday in the major junior Canadian Hockey League’s Import Draft, including 2017 first-round pick Erik Brannstrom.
The 18-year-old defenseman from Sweden was taken by the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League in the first round. Brandon is owned by Knights assistant general manager Kelly McCrimmon.
Brandon also picked goaltender Jiri Patera in the draft, which is for players age 17 to 19 from outside Canada or the United States. Goaltender Maksim Zhukov, a fourth-round pick of the Knights in 2017, went to Barrie.
Brannstrom said Wednesday he plans to play this season in North America, and the pick by Brandon gives him another option in his development.