Tuesday 9 January 2018

Hurricanes & Swift Current Blockbuster Trade

The Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club announced Monday that they have acquired forwards Logan Barlage and Owen Blocker, defenseman Matthew Stanley, goaltender Logan Flodell, a first-round draft pick in the 2020 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, a third-round pick in 2020 and a conditional second-round draft pick in 2021 from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for forwards Giorgio Estephan and Tanner Nagel and goaltender Stuart Skinner.

Barlage (Bar-LOGGY), 16, was the fourth overall pick by the Broncos in the 2016 Bantam Draft. The product of Humboldt, Saskatchewan has seven points (1g-6a) along with 17 penalty minutes in 37 games this season for Swift Current. The 6’4”, 201-pound forward collected 76 points (37g-39a) in 44 games last season for the Prince Albert Mintos in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. In his bantam draft year, Barlage scored an impressive 125 points (60g-65a) in 30 games with his hometown Humboldt Broncos Bantam AA team.

Blocker, 17, was originally drafted in the second round (32nd overall) by the Broncos in the 2015 Bantam Draft. The 6’1”, 190-pound forward from Oakbank, Manitoba has skated in 27 games this season for Swift Current scoring just one goal while adding 20 penalty minutes. In 70 career WHL games, Blocker has collected two points (1g-1a). He had 32 points (13g-19a) along with 88 penalty minutes in 42 games with the Eastman Selects Midget AAA team in 2015-2016.

Stanley, 19, was a 12th round (248th overall) draft pick by Swift Current in the 2013 Bantam Draft. The 6’1”, 177-pound rearguard from Balmoral, Manitoba has appeared in 40 games this year collecting four assists along with 40 penalty minutes. In 91 career games for the Broncos, he has earned five helpers along with 90 penalty minutes.

Flodell (Flow-DELL), 20, was originally a third round draft pick (47th overall) by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2012 Bantam Draft. In 35 games this season with the Broncos, the overage goaltender from Regina, Saskatchewan has posted a 24-8-3-0 record with a 3.07 goals against average and a .913 save percentage along with three shutouts. Last season with the Saskatoon Blades, Flodell finished with 22 victories along with a 2.81 GAA and a .912 SV%. He was named an Eastern Conference second-team all-star last year.

“This was obviously a difficult trade to make, as you can imagine, but one we felt we had to do,” said Hurricanes General Manager Peter Anholt. “To be able to get Barlage in the trade was the key to this move. He’s a big, young guy who has a lot of potential and we think he will be a real good player who will be an important piece to our now and future. And to get Flodell, Blocker and Stanley to help us now is important; plus the draft picks.”
Nagel, 19, was an Alternate Captain for the Hurricanes. After being acquired from the Portland Winterhawks, he appeared in 107 career games with the Hurricanes collecting 24 points (13g-11a) along with 128 penalty minutes. He added four points (2g-2a) and 12 penalty minutes in 20 playoff games last year for the ‘Canes.

Estephan, 20, who was the ‘Canes 25th Captain in franchise history ends his tenure with the Hurricanes having appeared in 297 regular season games scoring 297 career points (119g-178a) along with 101 penalty minutes. He added another 28 points (13g-15a) in 23 post-season games. The former fourth overall pick in the 2012 Bantam Draft finishes fifth in all-time franchise games played (297), tied for seventh in all-time points (297), ninth in all-time goals (119) and fourth in all-time assists (178).

Skinner, 19, was originally drafted by the Hurricanes 17th overall in the 2013 Bantam Draft. The Edmonton product finishes having played in 182 career games for the ‘Canes posting an 88-66-8-5 record with a 3.30 goals against average and a .907 save percentage. He also posted a 3.18 GAA and a .911 SV% in 24 career post-season games with the Hurricanes. Skinner finishes first in career games played by a goaltender in Hurricanes franchise history (182), first in minutes played (9,885), first in saves (5,318) and first in all-time victories by a goaltender (88).

“It always hard to trade guys that have been as important to your franchise as Tanner, Giorgio and Stuart. The sacrifice that they have put forth for our organization cannot be understated and we can’t thank them enough and we certainly wish them all the best moving forward,” said Anholt.
The Hurricanes would like to thank Giorgio, Stuart and Tanner for their efforts and sacrifices in their time with the Hurricanes and wish them the best in their future endeavours.

The Hurricanes return to action on Tuesday when they welcome the Red Deer Rebels to the ENMAX Centre at 7:00pm in the first of a home-and-home. Tickets for the game can be purchased online, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre.

- Lethbridge Hurricanes 

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