Red Deer Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter was clearly frustrated with his group last week and decided an upgrade was necessary.
The Rebels suffered their third straight loss Wednesday in Medicine Hat and had given up 17 goals in their last four games.
Friday, Sutter acquired a pair of veteran forwards from the Kootenay Ice for a collection of draft picks, prospects and two roster players.
Coming to Red Deer are 19-year-old forwards Cam Hausinger and Brett Davis. Hausinger, an Anchorage, Alaska native played 41 games for the Rebels in the 2016-17 season. He had seven goals and five assists that season.
“It’s been something that’s been in the works for a while,” Sutter said.
“Those two players are going to bring some stuff to our game that we need. They both had 20 plus goals last season. They are competitors and they bring a little bit of bite to our front end. As the season goes on, it doesn’t get easier. Maybe it gets guys in places where they need to play. Just adding some more depth and experience.”
Since joining the Ice, Hausinger has been a steady player. Last season he recorded 21 goals and 22 assists in 70 games and this year, has 17 points through 27 games. He has played 216 career WHL games, with 42 goals and 44 assists.
Davis, a six-foot-one, 179-pound centre has been with the Ice for the last three seasons. Last year he had 25 goals and 33 assists in 72 games. He’s off to a solid start in 2018-19, with seven goals and 12 assists in 24 games. He was also picked by the Dallas Stars in the sixth round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
Heading to the Ice are 17-year old forward River Fahey, 18-year old forward Austin Schellenberg, 15-year old prospect Chase Bertholet (Prince Albert Mintos AAA midget), and 17-year old prospect Justin Svenson (Swan Valley MJHL).
Red Deer also sent a first, third and sixth round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft, a second-round selection in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft and a conditional third rounder in 2022.
“Players will develop if they’re around better players,” Sutter added.
“Paid a lot to do it, we get two players that could possibly be back next year and it just adds to our team.”
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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