Saturday, June 18, 2005 | By Philip Croucher, Halifax Daily News

The Halifax Mooseheads now have two first-round picks in this month's Canadian Hockey League import draft.

The Mooseheads traded a sixth-round selection in next year's Quebec Major Junior Hockey League entry draft to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, for their first-round selection, 47th overall, in June 29's import draft.

47th and 50th picks overall

Before the trade yesterday, Halifax had the 50th overall selection in the import draft, and a late second-round choice (108). Teams can select up to two players at any import draft, which means the Mooseheads last pick will likely be lost or traded away.

Chicoutimi already has its two impact import players for next season - Stanislav Lascek and Marek Zagrapan - and won't need any draft selections.

"The (108) pick is very, very far down and we wanted to advance ourselves and see if we're able to get the kids we want," said Mooseheads general manager Marcel Patenaude. "We have our kids lined up, and hopefully we will get them. If we don't, we have a plan B.

"Right now, we feel our two kids should be there at No. 47 and 50."

Obviously, Patenaude was tight-lipped about saying too much about the two imports he wants, but did say they're both "very good players" and are willing to report.

He also said theyre both younger than 19.

"Rarely are you going to go for a 19-year-old, just for one year," Patenaude said. "In our situation mostly, we need to get two young Europeans that we can have for two years - like we did for (Jan) Steber and for (Petr) Vrana.

"We don't want to change Europeans every year. We want guys that are able to come into our organization, fit in, and be part of our success."

Vrana and Steber are still property of Halifax, but neither is expected to be back next season. Vrana and Steber have one year of junior eligibility left, but are looking to play professional for the 2005-06 season.

Because Steber and Vrana are 20-year-olds next year, they go on the list for overage Europeans, and not on the 55-man roster sheet. That allows Halifax to pick two new import players, and not lose the rights to Vrana or Steber.

'Still deciding'

"Petr signed a pro contract, and I definitely think he'll be playing in the New Jersey organization," Patenaude said. "As for Jan right now, he's still deciding. Maybe he's going to stay (at home in the Czech Republic). If he doesn't get a chance to play professional here in Canada or in the United States, he probably wants to stay in the Czech Republic and play pro there."