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ICE select pair In CHL Import Draft
The Kootenay ICE dipped into the Czech Republic and Slovakia for a pair of 18-year-old players during the 24th annual CHL Import Draft June 30.
ICE GM Jeff Chynoweth announced the club has selected 18-year-old Czech left wing Roman Dymacek (first round, 35th overall) and 18-year-old Slovak defenseman Mario Grman (second round, 95th overall).
“Our goal today was to select players (who) can step into our lineup right away. Roman was ranked by NHL Central Scouting leading up to this past weekend’s NHL Entry Draft. He helped his country to a silver medal at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and that experience combined with his development at the junior level in Europe should help him adjust to North America and the Western Hockey League,” Chynoweth said.
Dymacek, a 6’1”, 175 lb., left shooting winger, scored 15 goals and 16 assists in 49 games for Brno in the Czech Republic last season, is expected to fill a top six spot for the ICE in 2015/16.
Recent Red Deer Rebel Mario Grman played last season in the WHL and “will bring some valuable experience to our blue line. He plays the game with an edge and is willing to stand up for his teammates, and will be given every opportunity to develop further with our club this year,” added Chynoweth.
Grman, 6’1”, 186 lbs. is a right shooting defender who notched three helpers in 43 penalty minutes in 35 games with the Rebels last season.
The ICE also rounded out their off-ice staff by hiring Gordon Burnett as their new assistant coach, Darcy Ewanchuk as trainer / equipment manager, and extended the contract of Director of Scouting Garnet Kazuik – all on three-year terms.
“We are happy to welcome both new and familiar faces to our hockey operations staff. The success our Club has maintained over the past 17 years can be attributed to the quality of our personnel, and we feel as though the wealth of experience each of these individuals offer to our organization will allow us to grow on and off the ice this coming season,” said Chynoweth.
Burnett played college hockey at The College of St. Scholastica (2002-2006) before embarking on a seven-year professional career in the ECHL and CHL. Prior to joining the ICE Burnett was an assistant coach with the Arizona Sundogs of the CHL (2013-2014) and the University of Notre Dame of the NCAA (2014-2015). Burnett holds a Bachelor of Arts, Management and Marketing with a Minor in Accounting and a Masters of Arts, Management with Specialization in Organizational Development from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. Burnett is a 34-year-old native of Regina, Saskatchewan.
Ewanchuk returns to the ICE organization after previously working with the club as assistant athletic trainer (Edmonton ICE – 1996-1998) and as athletic trainer (ICE – 1999-2007). Ewanchuk has worked over 1,000 WHL games, also serving as athletic trainer / equipment manager with the Edmonton Oil Kings (2007-2008) and athletic therapist with the Tri-City Americans (2010-2014).
Ewanchuk achieved three degrees from the University of Alberta in the following: Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology, Bachelor of Physical Education and Masters of Arts in Athletic Therapy.
He replaces Cory Cameron, who will remain with the club as an athletic consultant. Cameron had been the athletic therapist with the ICE for the past four seasons and is establishing a therapy clinic in Cranbrook. Darcy Ewanchuk is a 45-year-old native of Sherwood Park, Alberta.
Kazuik has been the Director of Scouting with the ICE since 2007 after spending two years (2005-2007) as an Alberta Scout for the Club. Kazuik played in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Moose Jaw Warriors and Regina Pats (1984-1987).
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