The Olds Grizzlys have swung another big trade, bringing in Grande Prairie Storm leading scorer Jade McMullen.
Heading north in the trade are a trio of Grizzlys, Dustin Gorgi, Josh Zablocki and Alex Brewer.
McMullen, a five-foot-10, 170-pound forward out of Edmonton, has 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 31 games this year, good enough for eighth in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The 19-year-old is in his third season in the AJHL, all of it spent in Grande Prairie, and is committed to the Rochester Institute of Technology for next season.
“Jade obviously brings a scoring presence with him and we believe he is a guy who will fit in well with our top six forwards to make us a threatening team offensively,” said Grizzlys head coach and general manager Brett Hopfe, in a press release. “It’s tough to give up three very good players for us in Gorgi, Zablocki and Brewer, however in order to get better you have to give something back in return. All three of those kids are great players and even better kids, there is no doubt that they will all have success in their hockey careers.”
Gorgi, 19, was in his second year with the Grizzlys and had scores nine points (4-5-9) in 30 games this season. The six-foot-three, 185-pound Red Deer native scored 29 points (13-16-29) in 60 games last season. Gorgi was a member of the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs Telus Cup championship team in 2012-13, scoring 23 points (12-11-23) in 34 games, adding nine points (4-5-9) in 14 playoff games, and four points (2-2-4) in seven Telus Cup games.
Brewer is an 18-year-old defenceman out of Lacombe and in his first year in the AJHL.
The five-foot-10, 175-pound blue-liner has 17 points (4-13-17) with 16 penalty minutes.
Zablocki, 18, is a rookie forward out of Wetaskiwin. The six-foot, 175 pounder has 13 points (5-8-13) in 27 games this season.