Articles on the Trade

The Medicine Hat News and Prince Albert Herald have good articles on the trade I'll post a few excerpts but you can read the whole thing on their respective website.

Medicine Hat News
“He’s a guy that can jump in to our top six (forwards) and make an impact,” said McEwen. “You can look at his numbers and the way he plays, he really combines skill and his skill comes from hard work.”

"The numbers certainly look good. Harrison has scored 14 goals in each of his two full seasons in Prince Albert, amassing 89 points and 248 penalty minutes in 134 games.
Also, says McEwen, the Tigers get a player who’s still got a couple years of eligibility but is already used to logging a lot of ice time in the WHL."

"That’s in contrast to Fiddler, a forward who led the Saskatchewan Major Midget Hockey League with 44 goals and 49 asissts last season, and Bourhis, a defenceman who was sixth in penalty minutes in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Bourhis turns 18 later this week, but between them the duo have only played two games in the WHL so far."

"“We gave up two good prospects,” admitted McEwen. “What our fans don’t see is obviously they are prospects, they are good players, but we’re really excited about what we got back.”
Harrison’s excited too. He had gone to Raiders management to request a trade and feels he has something to prove after not being taken in the NHL draft last month."

http://www.medicinehatnews.com/story/tigers-make-big-move
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Prince Albert Herald

Negotiating with new Medicine Hat general manager Brad McEwen, the Raiders wanted more than “a top prospect,” which they believe they got in Fiddler.

“There was a little bit of a hiccup in the deal, because they didn’t really want to give Bourhis up,” Campese said of the Tigers.

“He’s a competitor. He had 185 minutes in penalties in his last year of minor hockey, and he had 139 last season in Yorkton. He’s a tough kid that plays hard. He probably could have played in the Western Hockey League last year, but Medicine Hat does a real good job of not rushing their kids, if they don’t have to.”

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/Sports/Hockey/2010-07-28/article-1626876/Raiders%2C-Tigers-swing-major-WHL-deal/1

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The Tigers listed the 4th round draft pick as future considerations on their web site. Makes me think that the Tigers were conscious of the fans opinion.

The more I think about the deal the more I get excited about this upcoming year. I am really really really hoping that Wacey Hamilton and Emerson Etem come back for another year. If both players move up it will take a Huge chunk out of the potential firepower. The lineup could look something like this.

Linden Vey Wacey Hamilton Emerson Etem
Tyler Pitlick Ryan Harrison Kale Kessey
Grbavac xxx xxx
xxx xxx xxx
gal/frazer/bredo/petryk + incoming prospects

That is a heavy duty top 2 lines. They have decent size and physical game play mixed with scoring and speed. I think the Cole Grbavac line and whoever else fills in on the third line will prove to be a pretty good checking unit. Hopefully the rookies coming in will provide a solid 4th line and some depth.

On Defense. The Tigers have a bit of a logjam but its very uncertain.
Sebastian Owuya, Coyle, Konan, Sohn, Businius, McKay, Carr, Patrik Parkkonen + any rookies that make the team

Coyle could play pro, Carr is an overager. We dont know exactly how the 2 new euro imports will fit in. Moves will be made once the coyle/carr situation is known.