Post by thedarkangel1975 on Jun 22, 2012 22:55:27 GMT -5
General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers, with the first overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft have selected Nail Yakupov from the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League.
Yakupov, in his second season with the Sting, played in 42 games collecting 69 points (31G, 38A).
In 2010-11 the 5’11”, 190-pound right-winger recorded 101 points (49G, 52A) in 65 games. That year he was named the OHL Rookie of the Month three times as well as the OHL Rookie of the Year and BMO Rookie of the Year in the CHL.
Yakupov, who hails from Nizhnekamsk, Republic of Tatarstan, was part of Team Russia in the 2011 World Junior U18 Championship. He collected 13 points (6G, 7A) and scored a hat trick in the bronze-medal game, including an empty-net goal with four seconds left, helping defeat Team Canada 6-4.
Yakupov was also part of the 2012 World Junior Championship with Team Russia that lost 1-0 to Sweden in the gold medal game, acquiring a silver medal. In seven games he had a team-high nine assists and was +5.
