It is a day many anticipate, especially the more hardcore fans. Some will take the day off work, or slough off work and monitor twitter, facebook, or even our very own website, hoping to find information on their favourite player or team.
We are talking about trade deadline day.
For Red Deer Rebels fans, it was a pretty quiet day and honestly, it was expected.
Red Deer did make a minor move this afternoon, sending former third round pick in 2016, Nic Draffin to the Vancouver Giants in exchange for a seventh round draft pick in 2021. Draffin has five points in 35 AJHL games with the Calgary Mustangs. It is believed that Draffin will join his former coach Michael Dyck in Vancouver following some school obligations.
TRADE: Rebels send 17-year old prospect D Nic Draffin to the Vancouver Giants for a 7th round pick in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft. Draffin has been playing with the Calgary Mustangs of the AJHL. #RDR pic.twitter.com/46HpujdFAr
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) January 10, 2019
The Rebels should be nothing less than thrilled with their lineup. The team is on pace for approximately 83 points this season which is 16 points better than their last season with four less games to play. Last season was disappointing with multiple losing streaks of more than 10 games. It was somewhat of a miracle the team made the post-season.
With the playoff chase on, Red Deer is sitting three points back of the division-leading Lethbridge Hurricanes with a game in hand. These teams also meet in a home-and-home series next weekend. The Rebels have the same number of points as the Edmonton Oil Kings, who did make a move at the deadline, swapping ’00 Brett Kemp for ’01 Josh Williams from Medicine Hat.
Red Deer had made their big splash in the trade market way back on November 30th when they dealt River Fahey, Austin Schellenberg Justin Svenson and Chase Bertholet to the Ice along with the following draft pics: 1st Rnd. ’19, 3rd Rnd. ’19, 6th Rnd. ’19 ,2nd Rnd. ’20, 3rd Rnd. ’22 Cond. for Cameron Hausinger and Brett Davis.
Davis has contributed 12 points (5G, 7A) in 12 games and Hausinger has 10 points (4G,6A) in 11 games since coming over in the deal.
As it currently stands, Red Deer has a pair of second-round 2019 WHL Bantam Draft picks, a third, fourth, fifth and two seventh-round picks. They also have picks in rounds eight through 12. They do not have a first round selection though.
