Wednesday, January 11, 2012

MILS/STARS MOST ACTIVE ON DEADLINE DAY

Press Release

The Melville Millionaires were as busy as any team in any league when it came to adding new faces on deadline day. The Millionaires brought in four new players, three of which were via trades. The Mils added some depth and experience up front, in 20-year-old forwards Connor Bradshaw (21-7-8-15) from the Melfort Mustangs, and Taylor Wasden (28-2-3-5) from the Kindersley Klippers. They sent the SJHL list rights to Graham Hood (Lethbridge, WHL) and future considerations to Melfort, and futures to Kindersley. They also acquired 19-year-old defenseman Landon Hall (3-13-16 last season) from Dauphin for futures. Hall has played only two games this season due to an injury near the start of the year. The biggest acquistion by the Millionaires wasn't a trade. They received Sean Aschim back from the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds. Aschim had 9-goals and 18-points in 37 games between Moose Jaw and Seattle, and put up 51-points in 51-games in Melfort last season. He was part of a futures deal from a year ago, which sent Brayden Metz and Cody Hanson from Melville to Melfort.

In the Battlefords, arguably the top blue line in the league got even better, as the North Stars added a pair of 20-year-old defensemen. The made the first big move the day before the deadline, acquiring Mitch Berg (34-7-8-15) from Melfort. Zach MacLellan and Jake Daughtry went the other way. The Stars didn't stop there, as they added another overage defenseman, Lanigan, SK product Klay Kachur (35-3-5-8) from the BCHL's Westside Warriors. Berg (6'3”) and Kachur (6'2”) will make the Stars tougher to play against, and join a backend that already features Woody Klassen, Brody Luhning and Travis Sparrow. The Stars ended up getting MacLellan's rights back from Melfort, in exchange for 18-year-old defenseman Nathan Zimbaluk, who was re-assigned by the Regina Pats. MacLellan's whirlwind day continued when the Stars flipped him to Estevan shortly before the deadline.

Nipawin made the first move on January 10th, and it was a big one, as they landed 19-year-old forward Wheaton King (35-5-25-30) from Kindersley. The Hawks sent 18-year-old forward Alex Laird (27-4-7-11) to the Klippers. List players were also exchanged.

Other teams adding players included the Estevan Bruins, who along with MacLellan, acquired 20-year-old foward Trevor Tracy (41-13-18-31) from the Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL). They also shipped 18-year-old forward Dylan Schellenberg to Camrose of the AJHL. The Weyburn Red Wings added 18-year-old forward Kyle Oleniuk (13-1-3-4) from Flin Flon for goaltending prospect Austin Rediron. The Wings also claimed uncarded 18-year-old forward Logan Maddin (29-1-4-5), who previously played for Camrose of the AJHL.

The Melfort Mustangs continued their rebuild, sending Bradshaw to Melville and Berg to the North Stars. The only current roster player they added was 18-year-old forward Jake Daughtry (9-0-0-2) from the Stars.

Kindersley's going the same route as Melfort, as the Klippers are now without a single 20-year-old, and their leading scorer in King. After moving their entire first line of Jordon Hoffman (Weyburn), Jesse Mysiorek (Flin Flon) and Taylor Duzan (Humboldt) prior to December 1st, they continued that mode on Tuesday, with the departures of King and Wasden.

Flin Flon didn't add any current roster players, while the La Ronge Ice Wolves, Humboldt Broncos, Notre Dame Hounds and Yorkton Terriers, all stayed quiet on deadline day.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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