After the Battlefords North Stars lost to Melville Friday, head coach and general manager Kevin Hasselberg said changes needed to be made, and he followed through.
The team dealt last year's captain Robbie Newton, 20, and defenceman Joren Johnson, 19, to the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League over the weekend. In return, the North Stars received 19-year-old forward Alex Bechtold and future considerations.
The Strathmore, Alta. native put up 14 points in 27 games last season with the Canmore Eagles of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Bechtold also tallied three points in three playoff games.
The Kings receive an abundance of experience in the deal. Newton is a veteran of 176 SJHL games, all of which came as a North Star. He earned 35 points and 262 penalty minutes in that time.
Johnson played 29 games as a North Star after joining the team from the British Columbia Junior Hockey League part way through last season. The defenceman had nine points and 19 penalty minutes as a North Star.
