ICE traded 18-year-old forward Brendan Hurley to Medicine Hat for a 2012 3rd round Bantam pick.
This year - 26 GP 3-3-6 29pm
Career - 150 GP 10-11-21 243pm
The ICE now have 12 forwards, 7 defensemen and 2 goalies.
Cranbrook, BC – Jeff Chynoweth, General Manager of the Kootenay ICE Hockey Club, today announced the club has traded 18-year-old Forward Brendan Hurley to the Medicine Hat Tigers in exchange for a third round pick in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.
“With all our veteran players and returning 16-year-olds from the Under 17 Tournament Brendan was concerned with the ice time he would be getting moving forward. Ideally we would have liked to move him for a roster player, but when that didn’t materialize the draft pick was our next best option. The third round pick in 2012 will replace the one we traded to Swift Current in the Cody Eakin deal last January. We would like to thank Brendan for this time here and wish him all the best in Medicine Hat,” added Chynoweth
This trade leaves the Club with 12 forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season.
BRENDAN HURLEY
May 5, 1993 * Hometown: Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Left Wing * Shoots: Left * 6’1”, 189 lbs
WHL Bantam Draft: 2008 WHL Bantam Draft (1st Round, 15th Overall)
YEAR TEAM GP G A TP PIM
2011-12 Kootenay ICE 26 3 3 6 29
2010-11 Kootenay ICE 57 5 5 10 114
2009-10 Kootenay ICE 59 2 3 5 89
2008-09 Kootenay ICE 8 0 0 0 13
Comments from GM Jeff Chynoweth
On other deals made around the WHL
"I have to be a little bit careful because I sorta created those high prices last year so I don't want to throw stones at some of my co-horts. At the same time those prices were little rich for us. Did we inquire about some of those players, absolutely. Would we have liked to make a few tweaks here with our hockey club, no doubt about it. But you have to have a dance partner and we didn't have much to offer in terms of bullets in the gun after last year(Eakin trade). We're happy with where we are, we only have 12 forwards but it allows those young kids who have been kinda fighting on the 4th line in-and-out of the lineup every night an opportunity to play more. Moving forward, next season we are going to have between 8 and 10 17-year-olds on our team so this is a good audition for them heading into next season."
On some East Conference teams getting stronger
"There's no question they did, but there is only one team that is going to come out of the East. You know I really like our hockey club, we think we have the best goalie in Canada in Nathan Lieuwen and one of the best forwards in Max Reinhart. Plus we know how to win. There's a number of players who have won a WHL Championship and there's very few players in our league let alone the Eastern Conference that can say that. I like what we have moving forward, it isn't always about making the big deal. We've got good chemistry, we've got good leadership, I really like our chances and we'll see how everything ends in the middle of May."
On Tanner Muth's 1st 2 games
"I'm very happy with Tanner. I thought opening night he had a few jitters early on, but after that altercation with Cody Beach I thought he really got into the game. I thought Sunday night against Medicine Hat he was outstanding. We are not asking him to be anything spectacular, just keep it simple and play Kootenay ICE structured hockey, that's what we want to play. It gives us some depth in that '93 age group and we're exicted to have him and hope he improves game-in and game-out."
On getting Luke Paulsen back
"That was the wild card coming in (to the trade deadline), was Luke's health. We don't know how long he is going to out but he will be back. He's a warrior for us. For what he went through last year with our hockey club I'll never forget what he did and I fully expect him to come back and give us that leadership and that on-ice ability that few players have."