Hawks, Mustangs make roster adjustments prior to deadline

Both the Nipawin Hawks and Melfort Mustangs made last-minute roster changes before the deadline.

The Mustangs only made one move Jan. 10, with most of their action happening the days before, while the Hawks made two trades on the day.

Melfort Mustangs

The Melfort Mustangs were quiet on deadline day, electing to instead make their move prior to the deadline, acquiring 20-year-old forward Ben Allen from the Penticton Vees in exchange for the rights to defenseman James Miller and a player development fee.

Allen, a native of Allen, Texas, brings a significant amount of junior hockey experience having played in more than 80 games at the Canadian junior hockey level split between the Alberta Junior Hockey League, British Columbia Hockey League and the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, where he has registered 24 goals, and 36 assists for 60 points.

Allen was also a member of last year’s SJHL-winning Battlefords North Stars, scoring 45 points in 44 regular season games and 13 points in 12 playoff games.

Miller, a native of Spruce Grove, Alta., was acquired in the trade that sent Dakota Boutin to the Vees earlier this season and spent the first half of the season playing for the University of New Hampshire.

Allen has dressed in one game since being acquired by the Mustangs, where he registered zero points in the Mustangs’ 3-0 win over Flin Flon.

The minor move made on deadline day saw the Mustangs deal 18-year-old forward Josh Dobberthein to the Yorkton Terriers in exchange for a 2018 second round draft pick and 2019 sixth round pick.

Nipawin Hawks

The Mustangs’ rival – and closest divisional competition  –  the Nipawin Hawks were also busy in the lead up to the deadline making a trio of roster moves.

The first of the three moves made by the Hawks came in the lead up to the deadline as they sent defenseman Josh Laferriere to the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL to complete a trade from earlier this season, which saw the Hawks acquire Gage Misskey.

The 19-year-old Wainwright, Alta. native appeared in 65 games for the Hawks over the last season and a half, registering two goals and five assists for seven points while adding 83 penalty minutes.

The Hawks then got down to business on deadline day, making moves to improve their roster as they acquired Wayde Johannesson from the Waywayseecappo Wolverines, and Jason Bednarski from the La Ronge Ice Wolves in a pair of separate deals.

The first deal was the Johannesson one, which saw the Hawks send 18-year-old Steinbach, Man. native Caleb Paisley to Waywayseecappo. Coming back to the Hawks is 19-year-old Arborg, Man. native Johannesson. A rugged 5’10” 219 lb left-shooting defenseman, he comes to the Hawks with more than 150 games of junior hockey experience, all with the Wolverines, where he compiled six goals and 27 assists for 33 points, all while adding 122 penalty minutes. 

The Hawks’ busy day came to a close when they acquired 20-year-old forward Jason Bednarski from the La Ronge Ice Wolves in exchange for future considerations.

The Espanola, Ont. native joins the Hawks having spent parts of the last five seasons playing junior hockey in the Northern Ontario Hockey League, and SJHL, where he compiled 35 goals and 43 assists for 78 points in 157 games.

In 36 games this season with the Ice Wolves, Bednarski scored eight times and added 14 assists.

The Hawks’ newest additions will have their first opportunity to make an impact with their new club on Jan. 12 when the Hawks visit the Melville Millionaires.