When Matthew Pufahl was called back after practice with the Red Deer Rebels on Thursday and saw some personal items already packed up, he figured he had been traded.
But when he found out he was returning home, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound blue-liner’s worries immediately dissipated.
The Saskatoon Blades acquired Pufahl, an 18-year-old local product, along with winger Locke Muller on Thursday in exchange for defenceman Devan Fafard and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2012 WHL draft.
Pufahl joined centre Jake Trask as the only two players born and raised in the Bridge City when he and Muller made their Blades’ debuts Friday against the Prince Albert Raiders.
“If they’re lost,” said the former Saskatoon Contact of his new teammates, “they’ll probably be calling me now for directions.
“I played my whole minor hockey here. It’s good to come home again and see friends and family every game now,” he said, adding he’s been inundated with text messages since the deal.
Like Pufahl, Muller was also looking forward to a change of scenery.
The St. Paul native had just one goal and six points in 33 games with Red Deer and he felt he wasn’t given many opportunities to contribute.
He said he’s looking forward to displaying a strong, two-way style to the Blades coaches.
“I can see myself bringing some grit and some toughness,” said the 6-foot-2, 192-pound forward. “I’m going to be finishing all my checks.
“I want to earn their trust and show them what I’m all about.”
Blades head coach and general manager Lorne Molleken said the deal was consummated because he felt his team needed to shore up its defensive game.
Saskatoon has allowed 27 goals in five straight defeats entering Friday’s contest. The team has given up 135 this season, a mark that leaves them with the fourth worst total in the Eastern Conference.
“We needed to shake things up and this is a chance to bring in a couple guys with experience,” said Molleken.
“I wasn’t happy with the way our defence was playing.
“We’re hoping that these guys will come in here with a good attitude and approach and help spark our hockey club, get us back going in a winning direction.”
Molleken added that Muller will start his Blades’ tenure on a line with Chris Collins and Ryan Olsen.
Pufahl will be paired with Kyle Schmidt, but will take away minutes from top-four blue-liners Duncan Siemens, Dalton Thrower, Darren Dietz and Connor Cox.
And that suits the hometown player just fine.
“I just want to help contribute to the win column,” said Pufahl.
“I just want to help them move up in the rankings. Everyday, every practice, every game, I want to help the team. Whether that’s playing solid defensively or playing well offensively.”
(Daniel Nugent-Bowman is a reporter for the Saskatoon Star Phoenix)