With all the eyes that were fixated to the screen as Sportsnet brought the Western Hockey League into the homes of Canadians for the first time this season as part of their Saturday Showcase, the Calgary Hitmen pulled off the first of what could be a few mega trades for them this winter.
The Hitmen have gotten off to a slow start and entered the televised game against the Red Deer Rebels with a 6-14-3-1 record.
New General Manager Jeff Chynoweth made a few minor roster moves earlier this season, but really began to put his fingerprint on the Hitmen roster when it was announced that team captain Matteo Gennaro and Washington Capitals prospect Beck Malenstyn, along with a fifth-round pick in the upcoming WHL Bantam Draft, were dealt to the Swift Current Broncos Saturday afternoon.
In return the Hitmen received three players, the rights to two more players and a second-round pick.
Of players that suited up for the second-place Broncos, 20-year-old centre Connor Chaulk, 18-year-old blue liner Dominic Schmiemann and 17-year-old centre Riley Stotts will call Calgary home.
Also in the deal to Calgary were the rights to 17-year-old forward Josh Prokop and 15-year-old goaltender Ethan Hein.
If the name Prokop sounds familiar, it’s because his brother, Luke, was the seventh overall pick by the Hitmen during the 2017 Draft.
These days, Josh plays for the Vernon Vipers of the B.C. Hockey League, where he has 10 goals and 16 points in 28 games. This season, Josh has maxed out his official visits to NCAA schools and has decided to attend Ohio State University in two years time.
“(Ohio State) felt like the right fit for me. I like their program, liked their coaches and felt like it was a great opportunity for myself,” said Josh, who will enter the business program.
When asked if this trade has changed his mind at all about where he would like to play this season, Josh answered: “No it doesn’t. We have a good team and a great group of players right now, I really like where this team is headed.”
Josh also wanted to thank everyone in Swift Current for everything they have done for him since becoming a prospect in their organization.
Hein was selected 57th overall by the Broncos in 2017. This year, in seven games with the Moose Jaw Generals of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, he is 1-4 with a .880 save percentage and 3.83 goals against average, playing nearly 200 minutes less that starter Jake Davidson, who was a 77th overall pick by the Hitmen in 2015.
Headed to what should be a playoff team are two potent offensive threats, when healthy.
Gennaro has been down this road before. He arrived in Calgary via trade two and a half seasons ago. In 119 games with the Hitmen, he racked up 63 goals and 61 assists. In nine career playoff games with the Hitmen, he scored one goal.
Malenstyn was the 18th overall pick by the Hitmen in the 2013 Draft. This year, he has missed nearly the entire season with an upper-body injury. His offensive touch was dearly missed this season, after his breakout campaign last year that saw him notch 32 goals and 56 points in 70 games.
In a statement released by the Hitmen, Chynoweth said, “We would first like to thank Matteo and Beck for their excellent contributions to our organization both on and off the ice. This trade provides us with a number of key elements to build around moving forward, including a pair of former first-round draft picks, while at the same time allowing us to continue to push for a playoff spot this season.”
This year, Malenstyn only skated in four games, picking up three assists. He was nearing his way back to the line up when the trade broke.
Without Malenstyn — who was an alternate captain — in the lineup, the Hitmen ranked 17th in goals for, with only 72.
A healthy Malenstyn and the always dangerous Gennaro should turn the Broncos (17-5-1-0) into one of the top offensive teams in the WHL, as they already possess one of the top lines with Aleksi Heponiemi, Tyler Steenbergen and Glenn Gawdin, who sit respectively first, second and third in league scoring.
This feels like the first of what could be a few big deals for the newly minted GM. Many suspect Carolina Hurricanes prospect Jake Bean to be dealt somewhere, but nothing official has been mentioned at this point.
The Hitmen will get their first look at their old captain and possibly Malenstyn when the Broncos arrive at the’Dome Dec. 8.
Be sure to check back later for more information regarding the blockbuster trade.
