Daily Dose of the Dub: Thunderbirds trade away Hughes and Andrusiak and sign Ross; Fradette Mac’s Tournament top goalie

Seattle and Everett swap Andrusiak and Richards

In what has become less rare recently, the rival Everett Silvertips traded overage forward Sean Richards, the rights to unsigned prospect Brendan Williamson, a second round pick in 2019, a third round pick in 2020 and a conditional fourth round pick in 2022 for Seattle’s overage right wing Zack Andrusiak.

Richards had 49 points in his 19-year-old season and then tacked on 12 points in 22 playoff games. He has put up 18 points in 27 games this year and is no stranger to WHL supplemental discipline, having missed 13 games due to suspension this season involving two seperate incidents.

Williamson is a ‘02 listed prospect who plays for the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the BCMML where he is third in league scoring with 36 points in 24 games this season.

Andrusiak goes to Everett, having averaged over a point per game in the last season and a half, will provide a big boost for a team that is looking to make another deep playoff run. He has 39 points in 34 games this season with his 27 goals, being tied for third in the WHL and just one behind Prince Albert star Brett Leason.

Seattle moves Hughes

The Thunderbirds made their second deal of the day by sending goaltender Liam Hughes and a 2019 eighth round pick to Lethbridge for ‘00 forward Keltie Jeri-Leon, signed ‘01 prospect Michael Horon and a 2019 fourth round pick.

Hughes has a record of 10-16-3-0 with a 3.67 GAA and a .899 SV% in 29 appearances this season and has played in 72 career games with Seattle and Edmonton.

Jeri-Leon has 14 points in 30 games for the Hurricanes this season, previously playing in Kamloops and Tri-City before going to Lethbridge.

Horon currently plays with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the AMHL where he leads the league in scoring with 50 points in 21 games. This is his third WHL organization, having been a ninth round pick of Everett originally before being traded to Lethbridge.

Ross signs in Seattle

With Liam Hughes being shipped out, Seattle signed goalie ‘00 Roddy Ross from Camrose of the AJHL. In 22 games this year he posted a record of 8-6-5 with a 2.94 GAA and a .920 SV% and one shutout. He is expected to join the team immediately ahead of a six game road trip out East.

Hamaliuk done for the year

In more Thunderbirds news, it sounds like they’ve lost ‘00 Dillon Hamaliuk for the remainder of the season due to injury. The forward, who is in his draft year, has compiled 26 points in 31 games this season and also participated in the Team WHL vs Russia game in Langley this past November.

He took a knee-on-knee hit from Portland’s Matthew Quigley Saturday, causing the injury.

Foote named AHL Player of the Week

Kelowna Rockets alumnus and captain Cal Foote was named AHL Player of the Week after posting four goals and an assist in three games this past week. Foote has 13 points in 30 games with Syracuse of the AHL after playing three seasons in Kelowna where he played 202 games and had 163 points. He was Tampa Bay’s first round selection, 14th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Former Tiger joins hockey academy

Former Medicine Hat Tigers stand out Emerson Etem will be joining the South Alberta Hockey Academy as a volunteer skills coach, the academy is based out of Dunmore, Alberta and is led by current LA Kings coach and Etem’s old Tigers coach Willie Desjardins. He is joining SA Hockey Academy after playing in 9 games with Ontario of the AHL this season where he had one goal before being released from his PTO. He was drafted 29th overall by Anaheim in 2010 and had 252 points in 202 WHL games in Medicine Hat.

Winterhawks prospect Evan Fradette wins Top Goalie honors at Mac’s

Evan Fradette (2001), a fifth-round pick by the Portland Winterhawks in 2016 was named top goalie and of course a first team all star.

He led his St. Albert Raiders to the Gold medal at the annual tournament for the top Midget AAA hockey teams in Canada, the United States and Europe.

Fradette’s Raiders were down two goals in the Gold medal game with 25 seconds left ad they came back to tie and then win the tournament’s penultimate game.

Fradette signed with the Winterhawks and played some in the preseason before heading back to join St. Albert.

The tournament MVP was Saskatoon Blades fifth-round pick, forward Brady Nicholas. The signed ’01 forward scored the game winning goal. Nicholas has played in nine games this season with the Blades.

Three Stars of the Night

1st Star: Calgary’s Carson Focht put up two goals and an assist in a 6-3 win against Victoria.

2nd Star: Prince Albert’s Parker Kelly also had two goals and an assist in the Raiders’ 5-3 win over Regina.

3rd Star: Edmonton’s Trey Fix-Wolansky added to his impressive totals with a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over Vancouver.

Honourable Mentions

Saskatoon’s Max Gerlach had a goal and an assist in the Blades’ 5-2 win over Swift Current….Regina’s Max Paddock had 51 saves in a losing effort against Prince Albert….