After spending the better part of two weeks looking for some scoring help, the Estevan Bruins found it Thursday on a day that saw them swing two trades.
The Bruins acquired right winger Roger Tagoona from the Battlefords North Stars in a trade that involved three list players, and also picked up forward Brendan Wilde from the Weyburn Red Wings for futures.
Tagoona, 20, comes to the Bruins along with 1996-born forward Carter Folk in exchange for 1995 goalie Ryland Pashovitz and 1995 forward Wyatt Johnson.
The Rankin Inlet, Nunavut native had six points in nine games with the Stars this year. He scored 10 goals and 22 points last year with the Stars and Melville Millionaires, one season after putting up 40 points as a rookie in Melville.
Tagoona had asked for a trade not long ago, but he said he wasn't expecting Estevan to be his destination.
"I was a bit surprised, but at the same time it was exciting. I knew it was a nice rink. Keith called me and I was happy to be a Bruin," he said.
Bruins head coach and general manager Keith Cassidy said Tagoona brings more to the table than a scoring touch.
"More than that, he's a hard working kid," said Cassidy. "He's a player who's tough to play against and he can be physical and gritty, which is always good when that comes along with the ability to score.
"He's a pretty motivated individual and he wants to continue his career past the junior level. He's worked hard in the off-season to get in better shape."
Tagoona made his Bruins debut on Friday against his old team, the North Stars.
He started on the third line, but was moved up to the first line with Cole Olson and Nick Weiss before long.
"I gotta play gritty. I feel like I play at my best when I'm playing with an edge and being tough in the corners," said Tagoona. "But I also know I can put up some numbers, and that's where I'm helping the team out the most, so put some pucks on the net and get some assists and just play the body and I would be happy with that," said the six-foot, 195-pound winger.
Folk, the other player coming to the Bruins organization, is currently playing midget AAA with the Regina Pat Canadians. He has five points in nine games this year, along with 48 penalty minutes.
"Carter's a big forward, so he's got some good upside to him," said Cassidy.
Heading to the North Stars are a pair of 17-year-olds, one currently in midget and the other in the WHL.
Johnson came to the Bruins in the trade that sent Ryan Ostertag to Nipawin last year. He had been a candidate to make the Bruins this year, but he had to withdraw from their training camp with a concussion suffered earlier in the Saskatoon Blazers' camp.
Johnson is now with the WHL's Red Deer Rebels. He played his first game of the year on Friday after recovering from the concussion.
"The thinking is that he's from Saskatoon, so maybe (the Stars) have a better chance of recruiting him (if he is cut in the WHL)," said Cassidy.
Pashovitz was one of several highly regarded goalies in the Bruins' system. He is 5-1-1 with a 1.84 goals-against average and .930 save percentage with the midget AAA Moose Jaw Generals this year.
"Ryland is a guy they were targeting from the start and he was key to the deal for them," said Cassidy. "He and Brett Lewchuk were our two '95 goaltenders and we also have (local '96 goalie Cody Murray), so we felt pretty comfortable that we could part with one of them for our immediate needs."
Cassidy said that left winger Calder Neufeld (high ankle sprain) will be out longer than originally anticipated, which made it imperative to bring in some scoring. There is no timeline for Neufeld to return.
"With Neufeld being out for longer than we had expected, we certainly need some help there and I think Tagoona can do that for us at this point," said Cassidy. "We'll keep re-evaluating (the lineup) till we're happy with it."
Meanwhile, the Bruins also acquired Wilde, a 1993-born left winger, from the Red Wings on Thursday.
Wilde had four points in 10 games as a rookie in Weyburn. He had 21 points in 28 games with the Sicamous Eagles of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League in B.C. last year, also appearing in two games with the BCHL's Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
He is listed at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds.
"In the course of Weyburn making their moves, he became available," said Cassidy, noting that Wilde impressed him with his play against the Bruins in the pre-season.
"I hope he brings a little bit of energy. I hope both these guys bring some energy and excitement to the lineup, for sure. On Brendan's part, he's not the biggest guy in the world, but he's a hard worker and brings a little bit of a touch."
Wilde also made his Bruins' debut on Friday.
