Scoring is one area the Red Deer Rebels have struggled with for most of the season.
They have only 106 goals in 36 starts, fourth worst in the Western Hockey League.
On Thursday Rebels head coach/GM Jesse Wallin made a move that he believes will help that number by acquiring 19-year-old centre Charles Inglis from the Prince George Cougars for 18-year-old winger Daulton Siwak and a third round 2012 bantam draft pick.
The move was just the beginning of a busy day for Wallin who then sent a pair of 18-year-olds — forward Locke Muller and rearguard Matt Pufahl — to the Saskatoon Blades for 17-year-old defenceman Devan Fafard and a seventh-round draft pick.
Inglis is in his fourth season in the WHL, and second with Prince George, after being drafted in the first round, and fourth overall, by the Blades in the 2007 Bantam Draft.
“We were looking for a top six forward and a centre and he fit’s what we were looking for,” said Wallin.
But Inglis does come with some baggage.
He played only 16 games with the Cougars this season before being sent home to Winnipeg for disciplinary reasons. But Wallin feels it’s something that he can work with.
“He has a bit of a history, but we also know he wants to be an NHL player,” said Wallin. “I explained to him that this is his last shot at it.”
Wallin also did his home work on the six-foot, 183 pound Inglis, who had nine goals and seven assists this season.
“It just wasn’t something that was thrown together at the last minute,” Wallin said.
“It’s a deal that’s been in the works for close to a month. I talked with a lot of guys and did a lot of research before making the deal.
“We feel he will fit in. He has strong leadership around him.”
There’s no question Inglis has the talent to shine for the Rebels.
Last season he scored 32 goals and added 28 assists in 69 games with the Cougars. In his two full seasons with Saskatoon he had 11 and 19 goals respectively.
He also brings some toughness as 141 penalty minutes last season indicates.
“He’s very skilled and a centre who has a lot of grit and is a presence on the ice,” said Wallin.
Siwak is just returning from an upper body injury and while he was practising he wasn’t playing.
He’s been on the injured list twice this season and played 18 games, accumulating five goals and two assists.
“I hope the trade works out for both teams and both players,” said Wallin. “With Daulton we feel he has another level to go and he’s been a bit stagnant for us. He has been injured for much of the season, but it’s a deal that we hope will only help him.”
Fafard, who was a eighth-round selection in the 2007 draft, played 23 games in his rookie season and has two assists. He is a minus-14 in the plus-minus and has 38 minutes in penalties.
Muller played in 33 games with one goal and five assists, a minus-four and 47 minutes in penalties. Pufahl has been in 30 games and has a goal and three helpers, is minus-one and had 14 penalty minutes.
“We felt the two guys (Muller and Pufahl) weren’t fitting into what we wanted anymore and it was time for a change,” said Wallin. “We got a young defenceman in return. He’s a hard-nosed kid and will fit in this year and down the road. He’ll turn out just fine.”
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com