LA Kings Make Five Selections In The 2023 NHL Draft

The LA Kings made five selections in the 2023 NHL Draft from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The five picks, all of which came on Day Two, include defenseman Jakub Dvorak (second round, 54th overall), forward Koehn Ziemmer (third round, 78th overall), goaltender Hampton Slukynsky (fourth round, 118th overall), defenseman Matthew Mania (fifth round, 150th overall) and forward Ryan Conmy (sixth round, 182nd overall).

Dvorak, 18, recorded two assists with six penalty minutes (PIM) in 24 games with Bílí Tygři Liberec of Czech Extraliga, Czechia's top professional hockey league. The 6-5, 209-pound blueliner has represented Czechia on the international stage in two International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Under-18 Men's World Championships (2023, 2022), including serving as Czechia's captain in 2023 while notching three points (1-2=3) in five games.

Ziemmer, 18, recently played his second full season with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The 6-1, 194-pound forward registered 89 points (41-48=89) in 68 games with Prince George, marking his second consecutive 30-plus goal season (30G in 2021-22). Zimmer's 41 goals ranked second on the Cougars and seventh among all WHL skaters. The Mayerthorpe, Alberta native added seven points (3-4=7) in 10 WHL playoff games with the Cougars last season. In 160 career WHL games, Ziemmer has tallied 158 points (80-78=158), averaging 0.99 points-per-game.

Slukynsky, 17, completed his senior year at Warroad High School in Warroad, Minn., establishing a 28-1-1 record with a 1.47 goals-against average (GAA), a .941 save percentage (SV%) and nine shutouts in 30 games. Slukynsky's 28 wins led all Minnesota High School goaltenders while his nine shutouts ranked second-most statewide. The 6-1, 179-pound netminder played three seasons with Warroad, accumulating a 57-6-3 record with 20 shutouts. Sluknysky's 2022-23 performance was recognized with the 2023 Frank Brimsek Award, given annually to the top senior goaltender in the State of Minnesota. Slukynsky has represented the United States at two international tournaments, including the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and 2023 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship where he helped the U.S. claim a gold medal. Slukynsky is committed to playing NCAA Division I hockey at Northern Michigan University (CCHA) this fall.

Mania, 18, registered 38 points (10-28=38) in 67 games with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) last season and added two points (1-1=2) in four OHL playoff games. The 6-1, 190-pound defenseman has recorded 51 points (12-39=51) in 116 career OHL games. Prior to joining Sudbury, Mania skated in four games for the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL).

Conmy, 18, skated in 60 games with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL, tallying 33 goals and 29 assists for 62 points in 60 games played. Conmy led all Musketeer skaters in goals (33), points (62), powerplay goals (9), plus/minus (plus-12), shots (167) and shooting percentage (19.8%, min. GP: 10) last season. The 5-10, 185-pound forward was the only Musketeers skater to average over a point-per-game (1.03) and one of 22 USHL skaters (min. GP: 20) to accomplish such pace in the 2022-23 campaign. A native of Alexandria, Va., Conmy is committed to playing NCAA Division I hockey at the University of New Hampshire this fall (H-East).