Brantford Bulldogs select ‘super-sized’ 17-year-old in CHL draft

The Brantford Bulldogs selected Moldovan-Russian defenseman Alexander Karmanov with the 172nd pick in the 2025 CHL Import Draft Wednesday.

The 17-year-old stands at a mighty 7-feet tall, and is listed at 273 lbs, making him the tallest junior player in the Canadian Hockey League.

The Bulldogs posted on X Wednesday afternoon celebrating drafting, “the largest hockey player on the planet.”

With the 172nd overall selection in the 2025 #CHLImportDraft the Brantford Bulldogs are proud to select 7’0″ – 273lbs defenseman Alexander Karmanov!

The largest hockey player on the planet is on his way to #BFD.#OHL pic.twitter.com/AIqjchvBl2

— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) July 2, 2025

Karmanov currently has a scholarship to play at Penn State University for 2027.

For comparison, the recently elected hall of famer Zdeno Chára is the tallest player in NHL history, at six-foot-nine tall.

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