Pittsburgh, PA – The
Canadian Hockey
League is excited to
announce that Nail
Yakupov of the
Sarnia Sting was
selected first
overall in the 2012
NHL Entry Draft by
the Edmonton Oilers.
With the selection
Yakupov becomes the
sixth straight CHL
player to be chosen
first overall
following the Oilers
choice of Ryan
Nugent-Hopkins of
the Red Deer Rebels
last season, Taylor
Hall of the Windsor
Spitfires in 2010,
John Tavares of the
London Knights who
was selected first
overall by the New
York Islanders in
2009, the Sting’s
Steven Stamkos
chosen by the Tampa
Bay Lightning in
2008, and the
Knights’ Patrick
Kane picked first
overall by the
Chicago Blackhawks
in 2007.
Sting Head GM and
Head Coach Jacques
Beaulieu says:
"Nail
is one of the most
offensively skilled
players I have ever
coached. He is a
game breaker who
will bring the crowd
out of their seat at
any given time."
This season Yakupov
scored 31 goals and
38 assists for 69
points in 42 games
one season after
being named the CHL
Rookie of the Year
with 101 points in
65 games. The
18-year-old Russian
was selected by the
Sting second overall
in the 2010 CHL
Import Draft.