With the 50th overall selection in the 2022 CHL Import Draft, the OHL’s Flint Firebirds selected forward Nikita Zozulia out of Kyiv, Ukraine.

“We are very excited to welcome Nikita to the Firebirds organization,” Flint coach-GM Ted Dent said. “He has good high-end skill and a physical edge to him that he’s shown in North America the last few years putting up really good numbers. We look forward to getting to work with him.”

Zozulia has spent his last four years with the Anaheim Jr. Ice Dogs program where he has compiled 319 points in 177 games. This past season at the 16U AAA level, Zozulia scored 55 goals and 19 assists in 43 games for the Jr. Ice Dogs.

The 5-foot-9, 154-pound forward becomes just the fifth Ukrainian drafted in the CHL Import Draft since 2005.

The CHL Import Draft is seen as a way to raise the level of competition in the CHL, as well as to broaden its fan base while retaining high North American content.

Zozulia has also spent time with the Anaheim Jr. Ducks.

(July 5, 2022)