Oil Kings and Tigers make a deal

Press Release

Medicine Hat, AB – Medicine Hat Tigers have completed a deal with the Edmonton Oil Kings which will bring 17-year-old defenseman Austin Bourhis to the Tiger’s organization, the team announced this afternoon.

Going to Edmonton is 19-year-old forward Josh Koper who is in his second full season with the Tigers.

“Austin is a good skating defenseman who competes real hard and is currently playing in the Saskatchewan Junior League with the Yorkton Terriers,” said Tigers’ general manager/head coach Willie Desjardins.

“We are going to leave Austin with Yorkton for the time being and will continue to evaluate his progress as the season goes on,” stated Desjardins.

The 5’11”, 160 lbs defenseman from Kipling, SK is in his first season in the SJHL. In 12 games, Bourhis has collected 2 goals and added 5 assists for 12 points so far this season for the Terriers.

Last season, Bourhis played AAA midget for the Tisdale Trojans where he posted 8 goals and 14 assists for 22 points while picking up 185 penalty minutes.

“Josh has been with our organization since he was 15-years-old,” said Desjardins. “He is a good player who has battled for a spot on our team each year. He has not received the minutes played that he would like because we are trying to give more ice time to our younger players. Josh got caught up in the numbers game and with him being from Edmonton, it is a real good fit for him to go home to continue his WHL career while we can continue to give our younger players more minutes”

“We would like to thank Josh for his efforts while with our team and wish him the best of luck in the future,” concluded Desjardins.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)