Spitfires select imports De La Rose and Yazkov

General Manager Warren Rychel is pleased to announce the Spitfires have made a pair of selections in the 2013 CHL Import Draft. With the 11th pick of the first round, the club took forward Jacob De La Rose, a 6'2, 190-pound centre. At #18, the Spitfires selected Nikita Yazkov, a 6'0, 165-pound right winger that played with Novokuznetsk Kuznetskiye of the Russian MHL Junior League last season.

PHOTO CREDIT - WindsorSpitfires.com

Windsor - July 3, 2013 - General Manager Warren Rychel is pleased to announce the Spitfires have made a pair of selections in the 2013 CHL Import Draft.

With the 11th pick of the first round, the club took forward Jacob De La Rose, a 6'2, 190-pound centre. De La Rose, a 1995-born player, skated in 38 games last season with Leksands IF, posting six goals and six assists with 31 penalty minutes.

SCOUTING REPORT
He is an all-around type of forward who can make plays in both ends, and play any of the three forward positions if asked. His best skill is his skating, which one NHL scout described as very good, while another called him an explosive skater. He is a strong, hard-working forward, pressuring defenders well with his speed and physical play. He lays crushing hits on occasion, while showing determination in his own end through his backchecking and shot blocking.

“Jacob is a very good player. He was at the top of our list,” Rychel said. “He is under contract in Leksands for next season, so we have lots of work to do on him in coordination with the Montreal Canadiens. Worst case scenario, he will be done his contract and here for the 2014-15 season.”

At #18, the Spitfires selected Nikita Yazkov, a 6'0, 165-pound right winger that played with Novokuznetsk Kuznetskiye of the Russian MHL Junior League last season.

“Nikita is a very exciting young player,” Rychel said. “He has high-end skill, good size and fits in very nicely with our '96s. He also gives us a right-handed shot that we need.”

In six games at the 2013 World Under-17 Championships in Victoriaville, Quebec, Yazkov had three goals and three assists in six games with Team Russia.