The Swift Current Broncos are going back to Finland to bring back another talented import.

They picked forward Aleksi Heponiemi 10th overall in today's CHL Import Draft.

"We wanted a high end forward to mix with our young group," said outgoing Broncos Coach/GM Mark Lamb. "All the research we've done on him says he is a dynamic, real exciting wizard with the puck type of player that can complement some of our other skill guys we have in place."

Heponiemi put up 25 goals and 40 assists in 39 games for the Ilves U18 team in the Jr. B SM-sarja league last season.

He added 6 points in 5 playoff games.

Heponiemi also played 7 games for the U20 team in the Jr. A SM-sarja league and added 4 points in 7 games.

He had a combined 101 points in 41 games for the Ilves U16 team as a 15-year-old.

"He's really dominated the leagues in his age group," Lamb said. "He has played in the higher leagues and done very well against the older players. He's a smaller guy that has great vision, excellent with the puck and a very competitive kid. The agency that we've worked with is very high on him and that's why we took him 10th overall."

The 17-year-old from Tampere is listed at 5'9 and 139lbs on Elite Hockey Prospects. Justin Froese from Future Considerations called him a "small but dynamic offensive threat. Kid can absolutely fly."

Heponiemi twice represented Finland on their U16 team and on their U17 World Junior A Challenge squad.

Lamb's departure for the American Hockey League means the Broncos are still waiting on a new management team. That could delay the recruitment process after the pick.

"There's ongoing conversations," Lamb noted. "We're a little bit of in a holding mode because we don't have a coach right now and there's uncertainty there. It's something we've talked about and we're very confident we're going to get the kid.

Lamb added the organization has had a lot of interest in his old jobs since the news became official and he believes there will be strong people in place.

The Broncos had some recent success drafting the likes of Eetu Laurikainen and Julius Honka from Finland. They also have openings in their top six after the graduating of Jon Martin, Scott Feser and Jamal Watson.

"Opportunity is going to be huge," Lamb said. "These kids are so well schooled now they've been to all these tournaments, they've travelled overseas so they're pretty schooled about being here. We're not worried about that. We just like the skill."

Swift Current will also have sophomore Russian D Artyom Minulin on their roster for next season.

Kootenay took Russian Klim Kostin with the top pick in the draft.