Windsor Spitfires’ GM Bill Bowler’s Resume at CHL Import Draft

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft is a bit of a guessing game. For Windsor Spitfires’ general manager Bill Bowler, it’s had some impressive hits, along with a few big misses, too.

The draft allows all 61 teams across Canada to draft three players (it was two until 2025, which we’ll explain below) whose parents or guardians mainly reside outside of Canada or the United States. It’s a great way to find talent from abroad but can also be a complete roll of the dice. Bowler took over for long-time GM Warren Rychel in July 2019 (shortly after the 2019 draft in June) and, while he’s had some home runs, there have also been some swings and misses. With the 2026 version having taken place on Tuesday, June 30, let’s take a look at Bowler’s Import resume to date.

Sobolev Starts Bowler’s Era in 2020

Despite the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and CHL as a whole, cancelling the 2019-20 season in March 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Import Draft continued on as planned in late June. The club had just saw both of their imports, Finnish goaltender Kari Piiroinen and Finnish defenceman Ruben Rafkin, head back home for the pandemic. The hope was that the 2020-21 season would get underway at some point so Bowler made one pick, his first as GM, taking defenceman Daniil Sobolev out of MHK Spartak Moskva in Russia.

The 6-foot, 215-pound 17-year-old came advertised as a solid, physical defender who could put up a few points. Unfortunately, while he signed with the club shortly after the selection, the league didn’t start up until 2021-22. When he did get his chance, though, he made the most of it.

Sobolev read plays well, stopping forechecks before they got into the zone. He could lay out hits with the best of them but he played a strong positional game, too. He also chipped in three goals and 26 points in 110 games from 2020-23.

Unfortunately, the club needed assets following a title run in 2022-23 so they shipped him off to the Niagara IceDogs for picks in early August 2023. He played one more season before heading back to Russia and he’s now with Spartak Moskva. This was a definite “hit” for Bowler.

Spitfires Likely to Forget 2021 and 2022

They’re not all hits, though. Despite Bowler’s success in 2020, he fell flat with back-to-back picks in 2021 and 2022.

Joining Sobolev on the club in 2021-22 was 2021 pick Russian forward Avval Baisov. He was 17-years-old when they drafted him and had just scored 31 points in 18 games for Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk U18 in the Russian Under-18 league. The Spitfires were hoping he would bring that same offence to the OHL. It didn’t happen.

The 6-foot, 187-pound Baisov gave it his all every night but couldn’t find the back of the net with any consistency. He finished with just five points in 29 games and, despite his best effort, you knew the writing was on the wall. After the season finished, he headed back to Russia where he played until last season when he spent time in Turkey’s Intercity Super League.

With Baisov not working out, Bowler tried again in 2022, drafting 6-foot-5, 185-pound Czech defenceman Tomas Hebek. While he had very little offence, the 18-year-old came advertised as playing a simple, straight-forward game while using his size along the boards.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work out here, either. He played alright but had just three points in 28 games in 2022-23. When Bowler made a large move to acquire veteran Swiss defenceman Rodwin Dionicio in January 2023, who was the IceDogs’ Import, Hebek became the odd man out (leaving Dionicio and Sobolev). He was released and returned home.

Eichler Gets Bowler on Track in 2023

After two swings and misses, Bowler got back on track in 2023 by bringing in Czech defenceman Josef Eichler.

The club had Dionicio and Sobolev, who was ready to be moved as we mentioned earlier. Following the deal, Bowler signed the 6-foot, 194-pound 17-year-old Eichler. He came advertised as a gritty, no-nonsense defenceman who had zero issues getting involved all over the ice. He didn’t disappoint. From almost the start, he took the body, he got in your face, and he defended teammates with a passion. He wound up playing 127 games for the Spitfires from 2023-25, scoring 28 points and tallying 202 penalty minutes. He was the agitator of agitators on the ice and very much a fan favourite. It was a reasonable pick.

Eichler was eligible to become an overage (20-year-old) player in 2025-26 but became a victim of numbers (teams can only carry three). Instead, he signed on with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for a season and now is heading back to Czechia for 2026-27, having signed on with HC Tabor in the Maxa Liga (second highest level in Czechia).

It’s also worth noting that the Spitfires traded Dionicio to the Saginaw Spirit in November 2023, getting back Russian forward Valentin Zhugin in the package. However, he only stayed until the end of the 2023-24 season before returning to Russia, leaving Eichler as the lone Import.

Protas Shines in 2024

After a very tough 2023-24 season that saw the Spitfires finish second last in the OHL, they got a bit of a gift thanks to the OHL Draft Lottery, the top pick in the 2024 OHL Draft (Ethan Belchetz) and the third overall pick in the 2024 Import Draft. With Zhugin gone and just Eichler on board, Bowler didn’t hesitate and took 6-foot-5, 200-pound Belarusian forward Ilya Protas, who was playing for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL (his first season in North America).

While Protas was a Washington Capitals’ pick in 2024, his older brother, Aliaksei, was also with the Capitals so you knew there was some bloodline there. It turned out to be an incredible season for the Spitfires.

Protas was calculated, driven, and had a pro shot. He could get the puck off your stick and have it in the net in a blink. He used his size to control the offensive zone and left defences scrambling to try to stop him. He scored early for the Spitfires, scored often, and finished with 50 goals and 124 points in 61 games. His points were second only to San Jose Sharks’ then-prospect Michael Misa (who was playing with the Spirit).

Given Protas’ outstanding season, it was no shock when the Capitals sent him to the AHL for 2025-26. He didn’t have anything left to prove in the OHL and wound up with 66 points in 69 games for the Hershey Bears (AHL) while being named to the league’s All-Rookie Team.

While Bowler had the third pick and couldn’t afford to miss, I don’t think anyone can deny this was a home run of a swing.

Bowler’s Duo Makes 2025 Look Promising

As we mentioned at the top, in May 2025, the CHL allowed teams to pick up a third Import player for their roster. It gave teams options and allowed more players to join the league to develop their game. With Protas and Eichler gone after 2024-25, Bowler took full advantage.

In the first round, he took Detroit Red Wings’ 2024 pick forward Michal Svrcek out of Slovakia. He was playing in Sweden and advertised as an energetic, offensive pitbull who played that chaotic game despite being just 5-foot-11, 190-pounds. In round two, Bowler took 17-year-old Kazakh forward Beksultan Makysh, who was playing for the Boston Hockey Academy. He’s just 5-foot-10, 172-pounds but quick, agile, and has huge offensive potential. In the third round, Bowler went for 16-year-old Swiss forward Loan Burkhalter who was playing for HC La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss league. He was raw but had potential to be a 200-foot player.

Svrcek couldn’t get out of his contract with the Swedish club (Brynas IF), so he stayed there for 2025-26. Burkhalter came to the Spitfires’ camp but simply wasn’t ready for the OHL. Instead, he went back home and had 28 points in 43 games. Makysh signed, came to the Spitfires’ camp, and finished with an impressive 39 points in 68 games.

However, this past June, Svrcek got out of his contract with Brynas IF and signed on with the Spitfires. He’ll join Makysh at camp in late August. Burkhalter is likely returning to HC La Chaux-de-Fonds for another season. That gave Bowler an Import spot to make a pick in the 2026 Draft last week. What happened?

Spitfires Hopeful About 2026

On Tues., June 30, Bowler selected Russian forward Bogdan Yakushevsky from CSKA Moskva (Russian Under-17 and Under-18) and Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (Junior Hockey League – known as MHL). He had 78 points in 63 games. At 6-foot, 179-pounds, he’s another energetic 17-year-old who can provide creative offence, reliability in his own end, and a grit that the Spitfires like. As of now, there’s no confirmation that he’ll join the Spitfires but the club is hoping for the best.

The Import Draft can bring some real talent to any OHL or CHL club. It can also be a complete bust, forcing teams to go to Plan B. While Bowler’s had some big hits over his time, he’s also had some misses. What will the 2026-27 season bring? We’ll have to stay tuned.