Chris Mast
B.C. Division

Daily Dose of the Dub: Two trades as U.S. Division rivals send players to B.C.

Written by Brandon Rivers on

Cougars acquire a big forward

There are not many 6-foot-7 players in the CHL and the Prince George Cougars just brought one in. They traded the rights to listed 2001-born forward Keegan Craik and a fifth-round pick in 2019 for the 1998-born MacLean, the rights to 2002-born forward Sam Schoenfeld and a conditional pick.

MacLean was listed by Seattle and then signed midway through the 2017-18 season. He had two goals and two assists for four points in 38 regular season games and one goal and one assist for two points in the playoffs.

MacLean gives the Cougars a third overage player to go along with forward Josh Curtis and defenseman Joel Lakusta.

MacLean was the odd man out in Seattle as the other three overage forwards figure to be locks for Seattle’s top-six in Nolan Volcan, Zack Andrusiak and Noah Philp.

Craik played two games for P.G. last year after putting up 29 points in 27 games at the Delta Hockey Academy. The six-foot-one forward is from Richmond, B.C.

Schoenfeld is from Calgary, Alberta and played for the Okanagan Hockey Academy last year. He potted nine points in 32 games. He has not yet signed a WHL education contract.

Royals bring in Murray

The Victoria Royals made a trade on Monday as well, bringing in 1999-born right-handed shot defenseman Jameson Murray from the Everett Silvertips along with a 10th round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft for a seventh round selection in that same draft.

Murray, who is six-foot-three and 186 pounds, originally entered the league with the Calgary Hitmen back in 2016-17. He was then moved to Everett during the 2017-18 season for a conditional sixth round pick in either 2019 or 2020.

Murray had six points over 35 games between the two teams last year.

Ultimately it seemed unlikely that Murray would be able to crack the top-six blue line group in Everett and a trade to Victoria gives him a fresh coaching group to impress.

Everett signs first forward from their 2018 WHL Bantam Draft class

Halamandaris was taken in the fourth round of the 2018 draft and follows defensemen Olen Zellweger and Ty Gibson from that class in signing with Everett.

He hails from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba and played 30 games with the Winnipeg Monarchs Bantam AAA team last year, potting 59 points.

Winterhawks make Delorme signing official

One of the most impressive players in camp for the Portland Winterhawks got a WHL education contract. The 2000-born forward was originally a ninth round pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft by the Vancouver Giants but never signed with them.

He had a strong Neely Cup, ending it with a hat-trick in the final game.

After signing, he has two goals in four preseason games.

Brandon adds another piece they got from Victoria

The Brandon Wheat Kings are making their haul from the trade for Tanner Kaspick, they got from the Victoria Royals look even better.

They signed forward Ty Thorpe, a 2002-born forward from Winnipeg and he promptly went out and scored in his first preseason game.

Thorpe’s rights were acquired last trade deadline along with defenseman Jonathan Lambos and first round picks in 2019 and 2021.

Lambos has already signed with the Wheat Kings and suited up for a preseason game as well.

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