The Moose Jaw Warriors have selected Slovakian forward Robert Baco 50th overall in Wednesday’s Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
With the 50th overall pick in the #CHLImportDraft, the @MJWARRIORS have selected ?? forward Robert Baco. pic.twitter.com/MoBxJjnWHM
— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 30, 2021
Baco, 18, is a 6-foot-3, 201-pound right-winger out of Kosice, Slovakia, and played for the Under-20 affiliate of HC Energie Karlovy Vary in the Czech top flight this past season.
“We are excited to add a player like Robert to our organization,” said Warriors’ General Manager Jason Ripplinger in a press release Wednesday.
“He adds size to our lineup, he has a great shot, good hands around the net, and is a stronger skater with good speed.”
Ranked 66th among European skaters by Central Scouting ahead of the 2021 National Hockey League Draft, Baco has represented his country at the Under-18 and Under-16 levels and has played in 11 contests at the senior men’s professional levels in the Czech Republic.
In nine games with HC Karlovy Vary U20, he had two goals, four assists, and six points.
Baco played six games internationally with Slovakia and had two goals, two assists, and four points.
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) June 30, 2021
Should Baco come across the pond for the 21-22 WHL season, he will join a Moose Jaw forward corps that expects to have as many as four NHL draft picks (Ryder Korczak, Martin Rysavy, Eric Alarie, and Baco), plus the likes of second-year stars Brayden Yager and Jagger Firkus, in its ranks when the puck drops on the WHL campaign Oct. 1 vs. the Saskatoon Blades.
