Acting General Manager Garry Van Hereweghe announced Wednesday that the Bobcats have dealt 20 year old forwards Casey Knight and Jason Wark to the Spruce Grove Saints in exchange for 18 year old forwards Mitch McNamara, Liam McNamara, and future considerations to be named after June 1st, 2013.
“This move will provide two of our graduating players with the opportunity to finish off their junior hockey careers with a team expecting to go deep into the AJHL playoffs,” said Van Hereweghe. “The players we have acquired in exchange for Knight and Wark will reinforce the building of our young team in Lloydminster for the remainder of this season as well as upcoming years beyond this season.”
Originally from St. Albert, AB, the ’94-born McNamara twins were in their rookie campaign with the Spruce Grove Saints. So far in 2012-13, Liam collected 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points and 28 penalty minutes in 38 games played while Mitch collected 3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points and 6 penalty minutes in 35 games played.
Knight was named as the team’s captain at the beginning of the 2012-13 season, and was considered a fan favourite throughout the community. Originally from St. Walburg, SK, the local forward was the only player on the Bobcats roster to play for the team prior to the 2011-12 season. In his third season with the Bobcats, Knight had collected 6 goals and 21 assists for 27 points and 78 penalty minutes in 40 games played with the Bobcats through the 2012-13 season. In total, Knight leaves the Bobcats with 55 career points (19 G, 36 A) in 150 games played with the team.
In his first year at the junior ‘A’ level, Wark came to the Bobcats at the beginning of the 2012-13 season from the Dawson Creek Rage of the NAHL, who folded at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season. The Campbell River, B.C. native collected 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points and 109 penalty minutes in 39 games played with the Bobcats this season.
The Lloydminster Bobcats would like to wish Casey and Jason the best of luck in their futures, and would like thank both players and their families for their dedication to the organization.
On January 10th, 2013, all junior teams must reduce their rosters to no more than 23 players. The CJHL Trade Deadline for intra-league trades is 7:00PM (MT); the AJHL Trade Deadline is 9:00PM (MT).
Please contact Malcolm Radke in the Bobcats communications department at 780.871.0900 with any questions or inquiries.