Aside from a minor trade, it was a very quiet WHL trade deadline for the Prince George Cougars.
The only deal head coach and general manager Mark Lamb swung was acquiring 18-year-old forward Evan Groening from the Brandon Wheat Kings in exchange for a 10th round pick in the 2027 WHL Prospects Draft.
Groening currently plays for the Virden Oil Capitals of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League where he has nine points in seven games.
In 74 career games with the Wheat Kings, the 18-year-old tallied nine goals and three assists.
TRADE: The Cougars have acquired F Evan Groening (05) from the @bdnwheatkings in exchange for a 10th-round selection in 2027.
📝 https://t.co/6cc4SkeEyE#ForTheNorth • #WHL pic.twitter.com/EylQBgm0l3
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) January 10, 2024
Lamb noted in an interview with Cougars voice Cole Waldie, Groening will stay in Junior A for the remainder of the season.
The biggest deal came at the eleventh hour involving the Portland Winterhawks and Brandon Wheat Kings.
The Wheaties dealt 19-year-old star forward Nate Danielson to the Winter Hawks in exchange for Rhett Ravendhal (05) and Nicholas Johnson along with two first round picks (2025 and 2027) and a 5th round selection in 2026.
The Winterhawks have acquired Detroit Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson from the Brandon Wheat Kings in exchange for Nick Johnson, Rhett Ravndahl and three draft picks.
Welcome to the Winterhawks, Nate! pic.twitter.com/DLkq9miEgj
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) January 10, 2024
In addition, the Kamloops Blazers remained busy with their roster rebuild, dealing veteran forward Connor Levis to the Vancouver Giants for a package of three draft picks.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
MORE | https://t.co/473p1x8zDF pic.twitter.com/7vbaVq2ADS
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) January 10, 2024
Elsewhere, the Kelowna Rockets were involved a massive three-way trade involving the Saskatoon Blades and Edmonton Oil Kings.
You can see the full trade below:
🔁 TRADE 🔁
The Rockets have acquired defenceman Carter Kowalyk and three draft picks in a three-team trade involving the @EdmOilKings and @BladesHockey.
Details ⬇️
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 10, 2024
In total, 12 deals were made on deadline day.
The full list can be found here.
LISTEN IN: We caught up with GM & Head Coach Mark Lamb following the trade deadline 👇https://t.co/iTWmiWgKej#ForTheNorth • #WHL pic.twitter.com/w2R66HYGXF
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) January 10, 2024
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