The Fort McMurray Oil Barons have completed their first big off-season trade.
They’ve acquired forward Ryan Bloom from the Drumheller Dragons; he led that team in scoring with 51 points in 56 games last year.
Head coach Gord Thibodeau says it’s a big pickup.
“He has a very good skill level; he kills penalties; he’s the type of guy that can score some highlight-reel goals,” said Thibodeau. “He’s a little reminiscent of Killian Hutt.”
Drumheller owed the Barons a player after they sent their leading scorer Harry Hendrix there at the deadline.
Thibodeau says Bloom was a player they targeted in those negotiations.
“We really thought he’d be an important part if we could acquire him,” Thibodeau recalled. “When we made the Hendrix trade, he was definitely the guy that we were seeking, and we think he’s going to come in here and be a big part of filling the puzzle for next season.”
Bloom was the #14 scorer in the league last year; he also scored 45 points in 53 games two seasons ago, and spent time in the WHL with Kootenay and Swift Current.
Thibodeau says Bloom will be a great boost for the offence.
“I think he’s going to fit in very well with what we have,” he said, “the skill we have with [Hayden] Dawes, [Jetlan] Houcher, and [Kevin] Miller, and some of those younger players, Luc Lalor – anytime you can put them with skilled players, it’s going to help their game also.”
Thibodeau also says he expects to finalize the trade with Drayton Valley that sent forward Doug Jones there at the deadline either this week or early next.
He’s also owed a player from the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL in the trade that sent captain Brock Maschmeyer there at the deadline, but that can’t be finalized until the Clippers’ season is over.
April 8, 2013
(photo credit: AJHL.ca)
