As the Canadian Junior Hockey League's Trade Deadline came into effect on Friday, the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins made a number of moves.
The included six players moving out and six others moving into the organization.
The biggest move of the day had Bruins captain Cade Kennedy traded to the Humboldt Broncos in exchange for a Player Development Fee.
Kennedy registered 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 30 games this season, prior to the trade and was acquired by the Bruins ahead of last year’s trade deadline.
Another big name moving out is blue liner and assistant captain Michael Carter, who is headed to the Battlefords Stars in exchange for a Player Development Fee.
Nutrien Division team with post-season aspirations, going to the Battlefords North Stars in exchange for a PDF.
Carter registered eight points (two goals, six assists) in 24 games with Estevan this season, prior to the trade.
“Those teams (Humboldt and Battlefords) really wanted Kennedy and Carter, so they were pretty persistent,” Bruins’ head coach and GM, Jason Tatarnic said of the moves. “We talked to the players and they both wanted to stay, but they also both wanted to go; there was a bit of mixed emotions, but we talked about it and we thought [the moves] were what was in the best interest of the players and the team.”
The only player-for-player move saw defenceman Luke Lawford traded to Notre Dame for defenceman Ethan Andrews.
Lawford, in his first season in the SJHL, scored one goal in 16 games as a Bruin. Tatarnic said the move was about giving Lawford a chance to play more minutes in a new situation.
The Bruins will gain some veteran experience from Andrews with just over 70 games’ experience in the SJHL. In 32 games with the Notre Dame Hounds this season, Andrews posted 11 points.
The final traded outgoing player was Cole Robertson, traded to the Virden Oil Capitals of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for a Player Development Fee.
In addition to the trades, the Bruins also lost a pair of players to other hockey opportunities.
Starting goaltender Ben Polhill joined the Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League, while Cody Polumbus went back to the U.S. to join a team in the National Collegiate Development Conference.
The Bruins’ organization thanked each of the players who moved on for their contributions to the team during their time in Estevan and wished them well in the next chapter of their hockey careers.
A few trades were also made to bring in new talent to the organization, with the Bruins acquiring goaltender Beck Boiteau from the Whitecourt Wolverines for a Player Development Fee.
Boiteau had a 2-1-0 record in four games with Whitecourt before the trade, along with a 2.99 goals against average and .906 save percentage. Tatarnic said he’s looking forward to seeing what he can do with a bit more opportunity in Estevan.
From the other side of the prairies, Rylan Ringor was acquired from the Dauphin Kings in exchange for a Player Development Fee.
Ringor has seen some success in the Junior ranks, having received 114 points in 197 career Junior games split between Winnipeg and Dauphin of the MJHL, Fort McMurray and Devon of the AJHL and Melfort of the SJHL.
17-year-old Caleb Potter was received from the Swift Current Broncos after being re-assigned, after being a 2nd Round pick of the Bruins in the 2022 SJHL U15 Draft and posting two points in 26 games with the Broncos.
Another 17-year-old was acquired in Steven Steranka, reassigned from the Red Deer Rebels to the Bruins. A 1st Round pick of the Bruins back in the 2022 SJHL U15 Draft, Steranka had seven points over 25 games with the rebels this season.
Head Coach Jason Tarnic says he expects both of the players to be back in the WHL next year, but they'll provide youth and skill to the team for the season.
“Caleb and Steven are both kids we drafted, both had an opportunity to play at 16 but stayed at the U18 level, and both can play at the Major Junior level, may just need a little more time,” Tatarnic said. “They’re pretty dynamic players; they’re young but they’ve got quite a bit of skill and I think that will help us.”
The final play of the day saw the Bruins acquire forward Kanye Huang from the Golden Rockets of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League in exchange for a Player Development Fee.
The 18-year-old posted 21 points in 29 games with the rockets this season.
The Bruins said they would like to welcome each of the new faces to Estevan and are looking forward to the final stretch of the 2024-25 season.