Winnipeg Jets select Kristian Vesalainen in 2017 draft - Action News
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Winnipeg Jets select Kristian Vesalainen in 2017 draft

Two Winnipeg-born players were selected in top 10 overall spots on Friday.

2 Winnipeg-born players selected in top 10 overall spots heading to Philadelphia, Vegas

Winnipeg Jets select Kristian Vesalainen 24th overall

7 years ago
Duration 1:04
The Winnipeg Jets took Finnish winger Kristian Vesalainen 24th overall in the 2017 NHL draft

Finnish forward Kristian Vesalainen is the newest addition to the Winnipeg Jets.

The Winnipeg Jets selected the 18-year-old from Helsinki, Finland, with the 24thoverall pick in the 2017 NHL draft.

Vesalainenspent last season with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, earning six points in 26 games, and helped the team win the 2017 Champions League with three points in six games.

He's also got a gold medal with Finland under his belt from the 2016 U18 World Championship, and a silver medal plus tournament MVP from this year's event.

Vesalainenplayed for Finland at the 2017 World Junior Championship, posting a goal and an assist in six games.

2 Winnipeggers in top 10 overall

Two Winnipeg-born players got nabbed in the top 10 spots.

Nolan Patrick was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers as the second overall pick. Injuries limited his playing time with theBrandon Wheat Kings last season, but two seasons ago he earned 41 goals and 102 points in 72 games for the team and was named the Western Hockey League's playoff MVP.

Cody Glassbecame the first-ever draft pick in franchise history for the Vegas Golden Nights in the No. 6 spot overall.

The 18-year-old forward from Winnipeg played last season with the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL, earning 32 goals and 62 assists in 69 games.

Glass told TheAssociated Presshe'd already been to Vegas before being drafted he was 10 and playing in a youth hockey tournament.

"I didn't really see that as a hockey place when I went there, but now, with the new team and the fans and season tickets sold out, I think hockey will be unbelievable," Glass told the Associated Press.

"Just being there and walking down the Strip, it's something that's really nice. You don't see too much of that in Winnipeg."

With files from The Associated Press