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
No comments:
Post a Comment