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Thursday, January 11, 2018

Bulldogs move Connor Welsh, sign Lucas Patton....




Please read below for details on the Bulldog transactions in advance of tonight's BCHL/CJHL Trade Deadline, as the team moved Connor Welsh to the Trail Smoke Eaters for Future Considerations, while also signing Lucas Patton. The Bulldogs also announced that they've lost Liam Lytton and Ezra Paddock for the year - while at the same time getting back Michael Sacco and Julian Benner.

As I said yesterday - and probably do every time a move like this is made, it's tough to see anyone move on that has been here for a couple of years like Connor has. He's a great kid and person and has been a fun player to watch. Best of luck in Trail, and thanks for your contributions to the team and the community.

At the same time, welcome to the program Lucas. I had the pleasure of interviewing him before Friday's game in Nanaimo, and he's a well spoken young man and he's fit right in so far in the games that he's played, and that's certainly not an easy jump to make. It says something about his abilities, and I'm excited to watch him in a Bulldog jersey!

Hammer


BULLDOGS CONTINUE MAKEOVER ON BACK-END WITH FINAL TRADE DEADLINE MOVES

Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs made a pair of moves  
before the British Columbia Hockey League's trade deadline on  
Wednesday evening, signing 1999-born defenceman Lucas Patton from the  
VIJHL's Nanaimo Buccaneers and trading 1997-born defenceman Connor  
Welsh to the Trail Smoke Eaters in return for future considerations.

Patton hails from Sechelt, BC and was in his rookie season with the  
Buccaneers, having dressed in 28 regular season games while picking up  
five assists. The 18-year old also suited up in a pair of games with  
the Bulldogs as an affiliate player and has practiced regularly with  
the club over the past three months.

"Lucas is a strong defensive defenceman who skates well and competes  
at a high level," says Bulldogs head coach Matt Hughes. "He's  
impressed us as a person and player in his time as an affiliate and we  
feel he's ready to step into our lineup on a regular basis. Lucas has  
a great deal of upside and we're excited to see him continue his  
development in a Bulldogs jersey."

Meanwhile, Welsh joins a Smoke Eaters team that is currently tied for  
second in the overall BCHL standings. The 20-year old has been a  
potent offensive performer from the blueline in his two seasons in the  
Alberni Valley, with 12 goals and 45 points to show for 97 regular  
season appearances.

"Connor is a great person and a skilled player who has made a big  
impact on our team both on and off the ice," says Hughes. "Making the  
decision to move him today wasn't easy, but we made a trade that fits  
with the best interests of our organization moving forward. We'd like  
to thank Connor for all he did as a Bulldogs player and as a positive  
ambassador for our team in the community."

Patton will play his first game as a full-time member of the Bulldogs  
on Friday night when the team travels south to face the Victoria  
Grizzlies. Friday's game also marks the return of 1998-born forward  
Julian Benner and 1999-born forward Michael Sacco, who had each been  
out with long-term injuries.

"Getting Julian and Michael back in the lineup is really like making  
two big additions on top of the other moves we completed at the  
deadline," says Hughes. "Both guys have shown they can make a real  
impact offensively and we'll look forward to their contributions down  
the stretch run."

The Bulldogs have also announced that forward Liam Lytton and  
defenceman Ezra Paddock will miss the remainder of the season due to  
injury.

***

For more information, please contact:

Matt Hughes

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