Player Moves At Trade Dead-Line

Given the trading dead-line in place for Junior Hockey Leagues moves are being made to better the team in hopes of advancing in the playoff round for various teams.

Regardless of the trades some work out while others are simply a move to bolster one club that sees players moving from a contending playoff team to a team out of the playoff run.

It’s hard on the player(s) involved but simply put “welcome to the hockey world” which can be hard on not only the player but also the family involved.

In recent conversation with some players who were “moved or transferred” to another team some have accepted the trade while others are completely dismayed and feel they have been treated as one put it “like garbage” considering their loyalty to the club.

In today’s world it’s a part of the game that players getting involved at the Junior level of the game seem to accept in hopes of being the next “super-star” playing in the pro’s.

One has to wonder if just given the uncertainty in the hockey world if possibly the age should be moved to 22 giving the players an extra year of  Junior Hockey by one year and realistically speaking it  might not be a bad idea.

Not just teams such as the PJHL where the players can live at home and play locally, but also the billet families who welcome a new member to their home.

Over the past years players have been traded and for whatever reason the trade never worked out for either team while other trades pay dividends for both teams involved.

Trades involving the Vancouver Giants are as follows:

the acquisition of 2005-born goaltender Brady Smith (Cloverdale, B.C.) from the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for 2006-born goaltender Matthew Hutchison (Nanaimo, B.C.) and two draft picks: a fourth-round pick in 2025 and a seventh-round pick in 2028. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Brady to the Vancouver Giants organization,” Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta said. “We look forward to seeing him contribute to our team’s success. 

At the same time, we want to sincerely thank Matthew for his dedication and hard work during his time with the Giants. We wish him all the best as he continues his hockey journey with the Moose Jaw Warriors.” 

Smith (19) has played 23 games this season split between the Warriors and Lethbridge Hurricanes, posting a 10-9-1-1 record, 3.52 GAA and .890 SV%

Smith went 8-4-1-1 with Lethbridge before he was traded to Moose Jaw on December 2. 

The 6-foot-1, 185 lb. netminder was originally selected in the sixth round by the Hurricanes in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, after playing at Yale Hockey Academy and in 43 career games, he is 16-16-2-1 with a 3.58 G.A.A. and .887 save percentage. 

The Giants thank Matthew for all his contributions to the club over the last few years and welcome Brad to the Giant’s family.

When you turn your attention to the  PJHL you’ll notice that several trades have been made in hopes of having the trade pay dividends.

PJHL Trades

The Port Coquitlam Trailblazers transferred the  playing rights of Stephen Sihata  to the Aldergrove Kodiaks in exchange for future considerations.

The Whalers acquired the rights to Neland Voshel from the Surrey Knights in exchange for future considerations.