Tigers Make Trade

Medicine Hat, AB - Medicine Hat Tigers announce today they have made a trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The Tigers sent 17-year-old prospect forward Michael Forsyth and a 6th round bantam pick to the Warriors for 19-year-old forward Matt MacKay and 18-year-old goaltender Deven Dubyk.
"Matt is a skilled forward with good hands who works real hard from the top of the circles down to the net," said Tigers' general manager/head coach Willie Desjardins. "We are excited to have Matt join our team. He was at Minnesota Wild's training camp this year and we are looking forward to what he can bring to our club."

MacKay, from Calgary, AB, is a 5' 11", 190 lbs centre man who played in 31 games last season with the Warriors, scoring 6 goals and adding 3 assists for 9 points along with 19 penalty minutes.

"Deven is a player who is looking for a new start in the WHL," stated Desjardins. "He was just named the SJHL player of the week and has had a terrific start with Notre Dame Hounds."

"Our goaltending coach, J.F. Martel, worked with Deven this summer and liked what he saw. Deven has the potential to be a very good goaltender," concluded Desjardins.

The Minitonas, MB native stands 6'3" and weighs in at 180 lbs. He appeared in 35 games for Moose Jaw last year posting a 4.57 goals against average and 0.866 save percentage.

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Thoughts
I think the writing is on the wall for Ryan Holfeld, and Colton Grant. IF they planned on moving Holfeld they would of had to acquire another goaltender and they did that with this trade. I would expect Kundratek, Isherwood, and Cameron to be the 20's this year, barring any major injuries, or unexpected trade offers.

About aquiring another 19 year old forward. I'm thinking the Tigers are going to try and make an extended run this year. Their defense looks amazing, and they have a very solid group of forwards. They might not boast the firepower of other teams, but every line is solid. The other teams won't win a war of attrition against the tigers. Also the tigers are a tiny bit bigger, much faster, and play the body more.

They also have injury protection in the forward and defender positions. The tigers will still have to make a move or two regarding their 16 year olds. I think Dylan Businius will be the odd guy out on teh blueline, just because there isn't any room for him.

19 Year Olds
As for their 19 year olds a lot of people are wondering what the hell the tigers are doing by stacking so many of them this year. I think they are doing it for depth. I see the tigers trying to challenge this year. I could also see one or two of them them being dealt later in teh year, if they were to acquire a top talent. The tigers do have an extra 2nd and 3rd round pick for trading trevor glass.

The tigers are already semi-rebuilding in a sense that they have a bundle of good 16-17 year olds. Their 19 year group of bottom round picks(and FA pickups) who they have stuck with has matured. And the tigers are going to see how far they can run the table.