A day ahead of the 2014 BCHL trading deadline, West Kelowna’s roster is set.
The Warriors added a veteran presence to their blue-line and some grit to the forward corps, as Head Coach / GM Rylan Ferster put the finishing touches on his team.
Ferster began by acquiring ‘free-agent’ Ryan Fraser-Lee (’93 D). Fraser-Lee won a BCHL championship with Surrey last year and had nine points in 23 games this before being released by the Eagles (partly due to injury).
West Kelowna then traded (’94 D) Zane Schartz and future considerations to Trail in exchange for (’93 D) Braden Pears.
A veteran of 223 BCHL games, Pears will finish his junior career with the Warriors after previous stops in Powell River, Salmon Arm, and Trail, as well as brief stints in Victoria and Coquitlam.
“He’s an offensive, puck-moving guy” says Ferster of the Victoria native, acknowledging the key role Pears has played for the Smoke Eaters so far this year.
The Warriors also added some truculence to the forward group, acquiring (’94 F) Nathan Craft from Langley for future considerations.
Originally from Kitimat, Craft had 19 points and 64 penalty minutes with the Rivermen this year.
“He gives us an element of physicality and a guy who’s going to be difficult to play against down the stretch.”
A final move saw the Warriors deal (’93 D) Taylor Graham to the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints, in exchange for the CJHL playing rights to Tri-City Americans forward Devon McAndrews.
McAndrews is not expected to play in the BCHL this year, while Brennan Clark will remain on injury reserve for the remainder of the year.
Time will tell if these are the right moves” Ferster says of the changes. “We added two 20 year-old defencemen with some good experience and a forward who’s difficult to play against.”
“We won’t know until the end of the year where we’re at, but feel we’ve upgraded in some areas.”
Visit The General’s Report for more.
A day ahead of the 2014 BCHL trading deadline, West Kelowna’s roster is set.
The Warriors added a veteran presence to their blue-line and some grit to the forward corps, as Head Coach / GM Rylan Ferster put the finishing touches on his team.
Ferster began by acquiring ‘free-agent’ Ryan Fraser-Lee (’93 D). Fraser-Lee won a BCHL championship with Surrey last year and had nine points in 23 games this before being released by the Eagles (partly due to injury).
West Kelowna then traded (’94 D) Zane Schartz and future considerations to Trail in exchange for (’93 D) Braden Pears.
A veteran of 223 BCHL games, Pears will finish his junior career with the Warriors after previous stops in Powell River, Salmon Arm, and Trail, as well as brief stints in Victoria and Coquitlam.
“He’s an offensive, puck-moving guy” says Ferster of the Victoria native, acknowledging the key role Pears has played for the Smoke Eaters so far this year.
The Warriors also added some truculence to the forward group, acquiring (’94 F) Nathan Craft from Langley for future considerations.
Originally from Kitimat, Craft had 19 points and 64 penalty minutes with the Rivermen this year.
“He gives us an element of physicality and a guy who’s going to be difficult to play against down the stretch.”
A final move saw the Warriors deal (’93 D) Taylor Graham to the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints, in exchange for the CJHL playing rights to Tri-City Americans forward Devon McAndrews.
McAndrews is not expected to play in the BCHL this year, while Brennan Clark will remain on injury reserve for the remainder of the year.
Time will tell if these are the right moves” Ferster says of the changes. “We added two 20 year-old defencemen with some good experience and a forward who’s difficult to play against.”
“We won’t know until the end of the year where we’re at, but feel we’ve upgraded in some areas.”
Visit The General’s Report for more.
