The Lloydminster Bobcats have announced the acquisition of six players pertaining to four trades made during the 2014-15 hockey season.
On October 24th, 2014, the Bobcats sent ’95 goaltender Christopher Tai to the British Columbia Hockey League’s (BCHL) Coquitlam Express in exchange for future considerations. To complete the deal, the Express have returned Tai to the Bobcats for this season. Tai appeared in 36 games for the Express last season, posting a record of 19-14-1 to go with a 3.70 Goals Against Average (GAA) and an .899 Save Percentage (Pct). In 2013-14, Tai played in seven games with the ‘Cats, posting four wins and three losses while maintaining a 2.24 GAA and an .853 Pct.
Two months later, defenceman Tyler Kunz was dealt to the Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL in exchange for forward Taylor Allan and future considerations. Today, Bobcats General Manager and Head Coach Gord Thibodeau has announced that ’95 forward Marco Ballarin and ’95 defenceman Adam Clements will also come to Lloydminster to complete the deal. Clements appeared in 49 games with the Spruce Kings, posting 10 goals and 24 assists for 34 points. The Pickering, ON native came to the Spruce Kings early last season from the Whitby Fury. Ballarin, out of New Westminster, BC, is coming off a season in which he posted a career high six goals and six assists to go with 50 penalty minutes in 44 games.
At the January 10th trade deadline, two moves were made that included future considerations. Defenceman Linden Springer was dealt to the Brooks Bandits, and coming back the other way were defenceman Shane Switzer and future considerations. Today, the Bobcats have announced that ’95 forward and Bandits captain Madison Dunn has been dealt to Lloydminster to complete the trade. The Calgary product registered eight goals and 35 assists for 43 points in 60 games with the Bandits last season.
In the other deadline move, Lloydminster sent forward Lukas Biensch to the Spruce Grove Saints in exchange for forward Taylor Lotoski and future considerations. To complete the deal, the ‘Cats have acquired ’96 defenceman Graydon Smith, and will also be receiving another future consideration player from the Whitecourt Wolverines prior to October 3rd, 2015. Smith, from Leduc, AB, registered three goals and six assists as well as 14 penalty minutes in 50 games as an 18 year old with the Saints last season.
Thibodeau says these roster moves will be beneficial for the team as the offseason progresses.
“It’s nice to finally have these deals completed,” said Thibodeau. “This will serve to improve the depth on our roster, and give us more options to improve the team moving forward.”
The busy offseason continues for the Bobcats, as the team continues preparations for the 2016 RBC Cup which will be held in Lloydminster from May 14th – 22nd.
For further information please contact Gord Thibodeau at 780.886.9780.