With expectations high on the trade for the BCHL this season and having three (3) players in the first round, it was anyone’s guess as to where they would go.
Having the chance to catch his play in the playoffs this season against the Coquitlam Express it’s no wonder why the Red Wings were so high on selecting him.
The wheels were in motion and in order to select Dennis Cholowski (18) the Langley native the Wings sent Center Pavel Datsyuk to Arizona for the 20th overall selection, a second-round draft pick (53rd overall) and center Joe Vitale.
Dennis Cholowski (defenseman) is headed to the home of Gordie Howe and given the fact that the Chiefs recently retired #9 from the roster, this move is truly fitting.
Cholowski (6’-1”, 176-lb) spent the 2015-16 campaign with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League and led the team’s blue-liners and finished fifth among BCHL defensemen with 40 points (12-28-40).
He finished first in post-season scoring by a defenseman with 15 points (4-11-15) in 20 games played
Cholowski was a 2016 BCHL Second-Team All-Star and register 67 points (16-51-67) and 20 PIM’s in 106 games with the Chiefs over the past three seasons.
He also managed to add 22 points (4-18-22) in 32 career BCHL playoff games, which might be one reason why the Wings made the move to get him.
In addition he also won a gold medal for Canada this season at the World Junior “A” Challenge, grabbing two assists in four games played.
Prior to playing in the BCHL he spent the 2013-14 season at the Yale Hockey Academy and helped the team to a CSSHL championship with 16 points (1-15-16) in 17 games.
He is committed to attend the St. Cloud State University Huskies in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference this fall.
Congrats to the Wings, his Parents, coaches and those behind the scenes who helped “guide” him along the way to this career more.
Probably the reason for the move was that Datsyuk (37)had announced earlier in the month he was leaving the Wings to return home to play in Russia’s (KHL) Kontinental Hockey League.
He also had one year remaining on his contract with the Red Wings and despite the fact he’d be playing in Russia, his $7.5-million salary cap hit would have remained on the Wings books next season since he signed his latest contract after he turned 35.
Datsyuk played in 953 career regular-season NHL games (all with the Red Wings) the three-time Selke and four-time Lady Byng Trophy winner registered 314 goals and 604 assists for 918 points.
He also won Stanley Cups with the Wings in 2002 and 2008.
So interesting move for the Wings and Cholowski!
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