We complete trade deadline coverage in this week’s KIJHL Notebook with the Kootenay Conference, as respective general managers share how it was for them and what they wanted to do to improve their respective rosters.
Eddie Mountain Division
Kimberley Dynamiters
Nate Tillmanns (2005, F) acquired from Kamloops
Head coach-general manager Derek Stuart wasn’t very busy on Jan. 10 as he made most of his impactful moves before December.
“We didn’t need to tinker much, but we were able to pick up Nate Tillmanns, a really big (6-3, 281-pounds), strong guy, that can skate and has had an impact for us already,” said Stuart. “He is going to be very valuable in the playoffs. He’s fit in well, knows his role and is doing everything we have asked so far.
“The playoffs are a grind and you need big, strong guys willing to battle and wear other teams down – Nate fits that mold perfectly,” Stuart added.
Columbia Valley Rockies
Hunter Arntsen (2005, G) from Osoyoos
It was a “pretty quiet” trade deadline for Rockies head coach-general manager Tayler Sincennes, whose only addition on Jan. 10 was local product Ryan Tamelin, a goalie who won’t be joining the team, at least not this season. On Jan. 9, Sincennes refreshed their goaltending by adding Hunter Arntsen from the Osoyoos Coyotes for Jaiden Jakubowski.
“I thought he could change our goaltending situation and I think he will do that once he settles in,” said Sincennes. “I just like that he’s quiet. He’s not running around in his crease, not bouncing around. He keeps himself pretty square. He moves fluidly, and he’s not in a panic at any time. It’s just very calm and collected.”
Fernie Ghostriders
Ben Henshall (2005, F) acquired from Kelowna
Ethan Buhler (2006, F) acquired from Castlegar
It was quiet for Ghostriders head coach-general manager Chad Scarff, then things ramped up. Scharff was pretty happy with what they were able to do. He added three right-handed defencemen (Easton Zenko, Andrew Morris and Garrett Buchanan) as well as size and grit with Ethan Buhler and secondary scoring with Henshall.
“We’re excited about the five guys we were able to bring in,” he said, “Now it’s about getting the group together and gelling and seeing what we can do.”
Golden Rockets
Kalix Monkman (2006, F) acquired from Winnipeg (MJHL)
Joe Verardi (2006, G) signed from CNHA Northstars AAA
It was a busy day for Rockets head coach-general manager Jed Houseman. They added Monkman with the hope he brings more offence.
“That was an important move for us,” said Houseman.
They also signed Verardi, as Houseman is excited about his skillset.
“He’s very technically sound,” said Houseman. “He handles the puck well, so that should help the defence and he moves laterally really well and has a good foundation.”
Creston Valley Thunder Cats
Chase Bambrick (2006, D) from Salmon Arm (BCHL)
Kieran Strauss (2005, F) acquired from Chase
Spencer Brazel (2006, F) acquired from Chase
Thunder Cats head coach-general manager Geordie Wudrick was busy.
“There is a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes,” he said. “Lots of phone calls and inquiries on both ends.”
Wudrick accomplished what he wanted.
“Our goal was to get better, stronger and deeper while still building a good team for the future. I think one of our big additions was signing local Chase Bambrick and he’s been awesome for us since he started playing.”
Neil Murdoch Division
Grand Forks Border Bruins
Keelan Wyke (2006, F) acquired from Revelstoke
Nathan Flanagan (2006, F) acquired from Creston Valley
Border Bruins head coach-general manager Dave Hnatiuk was busy. He was looking to make changes in the weeks leading up to the deadline.
“It never hurts to have a little more scoring, more size, and physicality coming into the playoffs here,” said Hnatiuk, who has 85 career regular season wins with the Border Bruins in 164 games. “I think we accomplished what we were looking to do up front and didn’t really make any changes on the defence. We have been happy with our defence all year. Acquiring Eric Kahl (Jan. 4) in net was one of the bigger transactions for us too. We are solidified with Jasper Tait and Eric in goal. We made some pretty important moves for sure.”
Beaver Valley Nitehawks
No trades made.
Nitehawks head coach-general manager Terry Jones said when they looked at their team, “you always want to think, well, is this potential change going to have an adverse effect in your dressing room?”
“Sometimes they may work, sometimes they don’t,” said Jones. “I think they have to make a lot of sense and what we talked about with our staff was, does anything here completely make sense? If we’re going to do it, is it something that we have to rip our dressing room apart to do? I wasn’t willing to part with any of our top players.
“Pure and simple, many of our top players, they’ve just sold their soul for the Nitehawks and I wasn’t prepared to move them to get a guy, who maybe would,” he added. “I would rather have a guy that I know will sell it.”
They left one potential roster spot available to utilize if needed before Feb. 10.
Castlegar Rebels
Aidan Hicks (2006, F) acquired from Chase;
Eric Chenxi Jiang (D, 2006) acquired from Fernie
Rebels general manager Jesse Dorrans was pretty busy as they felt the need to get deeper in certain areas. Dorrans would have liked to have done more to strengthen the roster, but he felt some of the “asking prices were way too high.”
“Our overall game plan for how we wanted to approach the year and finish it out just didn’t fit those prices being asked,” he said.
With Hicks, he fills the need for a potential top six forward.
“When it came to Eric, we needed to add some depth on the backend and watching a lot of video on him, we know he brings an offensive side from his play from last year,” said Dorrans. “Bringing him in here, I know we have some opportunity where we can give him minutes and see what he does.”
Nelson Leafs
Dayden Collier (2004, F) signed from Elliot Lake (NOJHL)
Torin Thickson (2006, D) signed from Princeton
Leafs head coach-general Gianni Mangone was busy on deadline day. He had teams call, but they didn’t do much. Mangone signed Collier, 20, a former Fernie Ghostrider, who had 15 points in 29 games last season. Collier was playing in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, but became a free agent.
Thickson will bring size to the backend with his 6-3, 185-pound frame – making him the tallest defenceman on the roster.
Mangone accomplished what he wanted.
“I really like the makeup of our team, I really believe in the guys we have,” he said. “We’re going through a bit of a rough stretch right now, but I was quite happy with what we have. I just felt as though we needed to bolster a few areas by bringing some size and experience.”
Spokane Braves
No trades made.
Braves assistant coach Jason Greenwell said they are happy with what they have done and how far the team has come this season.
“We are excited for the remainder of the year and what the upcoming season will look like. Mike was able to get Dante Hughes back after Christmas and we are thrilled to have him back with the organization. He has made an immediate impact on and off the ice with his work ethic and team-first mentality.”
