Spirit adds Necas, Bappert from CHL Import Draft

SAGINAW, MI (Courtesy Saginaw Spirit) – On Wednesday, the Saginaw Spirit continued to take strides in completing the roster for the 2017-18 season by picking twice in the Canadian Hockey League’s Import Draft.

With its first pick, 10^th overall, the Saginaw Spirit selected Martin Necas (nee-cash) from HC Kometa Brno (Bruno). Necas recorded 15 points in 41 games in the Czech Pro League and 19 points while representing the Czech Republic in International play (Under-18 Ivan Hlinka and U-20 World Junior Tournament). Necas was selected in the first round, 12^th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2017 NHL Draft.

Necas, 18, was teammates with Filip Hronek, a former Spirit player, during last season’s Under-20 World Junior Championship with the Czech Republic. The 6’1, 179-pound center was the captain of the Under-18 Czech Republic Ivan Hlinka Tournament team, where he had six points in four games.

With the selection of Necas, the Spirit now has four rostered players that have been drafted into the National Hockey League. Brady Gilmour (Detroit, ’17), Keaton Middleton (Toronto, ’16), Evan Cormier (New Jersey, ’16) being the others.

With the 70^th overall pick in the CHL Import Draft, the Saginaw Spirit selected Tom-Eric (Tom) Bappert from Menden, Germany. The 6’1, 179-pound Defenseman played the 2016-17 season for Kolner EC Under-19 in Germany and Internationally at the Under-18 level with Germany.

Bappert, 18, was the captain of the German Under-18 team during the 2017 World Junior Championship and was the captain of EC Salzburg Under-18 team during the 2015-16 season.

Both Necas and Bappert will join the Spirit for Training Camp beginning on Monday, August 28^th at The Dow Event Center.

For full results from the CHL Import Draft, visit www.chl.ca/draft

Season Tickets for the 2017-18 season are on sale NOW! Reserve your seat at The Dow Event Center by calling (989) 497-7747 or visit www.saginawspirit.com for more information.