TORONTO — Foreign goaltenders are on the way out in the Canadian Hockey League.
The national governing body for major junior hockey announced on Tuesday that the CHL’s 2013 Import Draft will be the final opportunity for member clubs to select European goaltenders.
“The goaltender position is the most important in our game,” said CHL president David Branch in a statement. “In partnership with Hockey Canada, the CHL has identified the need to further develop Canadian goaltenders by providing increased opportunities for them to compete in our league and succeed at the next level.
“The CHL will continue to be the world’s largest development league and the number one supplier of talent to the National Hockey League and Canadian Interuniversity Sport.”
European goaltenders born in 1994 or 1995 may be selected by CHL clubs in the first round of the 2013 CHL Import Draft.
All current European goaltenders and any selected in this year’s draft may continue to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League until they have exhausted their major junior eligibility.
The decision was made by the CHL Board of Directors at their meeting in May.
The draft is on July 3 with the Vancouver Giants currently holding the first overall pick.