The trade deadline has come and gone, and the Drumheller Dragons have made some changes they hope will benefit the team now and in the future.
The CJHL trade deadline was 7 p.m. on December 1 and the AJHL deadline was 10 p.m. All AJHL teams were required to have their rosters trimmed to 25 players, two of which must be goaltenders to start December.
The Dragons made three significant trades in the days leading up to the deadline. They traded the Dragons’ points leader this season Tyrell Mappin to the Brooks Bandits in exchange for Rhett Kingston. On December 1, they traded Craig Ofner to the Drayton Valley Thunder for future considerations and Ethan James to the Camrose Kodiaks for Braeden Salverda.
Dragons’ head coach and general manager Brian Curran says the changes will benefit the team.
“These are changes for this season and some changes for next year, we are not throwing any towel in whatsoever,” said Curran. “The deal we made is a very good deal for the team, I believe they will help us now and down the road also.”
“The reality is that people look at stats and stats alone. When you look at the players we moved… all three of them are good guys and I wish all three of them the best of luck.”
He adds they all have opportunities with their new clubs.
Salverda is a 20-year-old forward who had four goals and nine assists in 18 games with the Camrose Kodiaks this season.
Rhett Kingston is an 18-year-old forward who had two points in six games with the Brooks Bandits this season.
