Few familiar faces will be seen on the ice when the Lloydminster Bobcats return in September. The organization have acquired three new players after a Tuesday trade that included six players.
The Bobcats will receive forward’s Chad MacLean and Nolen Coventry, along with defenseman Gunnar Kinniburgh from the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in return for defenseman Andrew Smiley, forwards Hunter Lamb and Logan Bromhead.
Head Coach and General Manager Nigel Dube has been steadily making moves on and off the ice to give the organization a successful foundation moving forward.
“We’ve seen some big changes in the organization since the start of December and for us, it was important to bring in the right players to fit the mould.”
18-year-old Maclean and 17-year-old Coventry are coming to the team after posting 6 goals and 10 assists last season with the Oil Barons. Both players also played for the Calgary Buffaloes during the 2017-18 season. 19-year-old Kinniburgh stands at 6′ 1″ and played for the Oil Barons for the last two years posting 7 points and 56 penalty minutes last season.
The organization has seen a major turnover since Dube was hired midway through the Bobcats 9-42-2 season. Six players are left from last seasons team, Dube says in return the team has received experienced junior hockey players to fit the organization’s culture moving forward.
“We really like where we’re at right now, to say that we’re our done, we won’t say that yet, but we have the pieces we’re looking to bring into camp. If something else becomes available that is intriguing for our organization and for our lineup then we will definitely take a look at it.”
The Lloydminster Bobcats will hit home ice on September 14 against the Sherwood Park Crusaders.