The Fort McMurray Oil Barons season opener is two months away, but the team is already making moves.
New head coach and general manager Dave Dupas made deals revamping the lineup for the 2019-20 campaign.
The team’s first big catch was a pair of trades with AJHL rivals, Lloydminster Bobcats.
Straight swaps
The first deal involved players heading into their sophomore seasons in the league.
First, the Oil Barons received forward Hunter Lamb and defenceman Andrew Smiley from the Bobcats in exchange for forward Chad MacLean and defenceman Gunner Kinniburgh.
Born in 2000, Hunter Lamb hails from Swift Current, Sask.
In his rookie season, Lamb scored 17 goals and 34 points in 55 games with Bobcats.
Fellow teammate Andrew Smiley of Calgary, Alta., also born in 2000, only appeared in 11 games for Lloydminster, scoring one goal.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old MacLean of Calgary, Alta., departs after scoring six goals and 16 points in 54 games for the MOB.
Hailing from Lethbridge, Alta., Gunner Kinniburgh played in 57 games for the Oil Barons last season.
Born in 2000, the veteran defenceman scored six assists and seven points.
As part of the deal, the Oil Barons will also receive future considerations.
Second, a separate deal sees both teams swap forwards.
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons traded Nolen Coventry for veteran Logan Bromhead and future considerations.
Hailing from Coquitlam, B.C., Logan Bromhead scored 33 points in 61 games last season splitting time between the Bobcats and the Olds Grizzlys.
Bromhead also registered 11 goals and 30 points in 59 games with the Grizzlys two seasons ago.
Coventry heads into his sophomore season with six goals and 16 points from 49 games with the Oil Barons last season.
On the move
Former Bonnyville Pontiac Lucas Reeves joins the Oil Barons for futures.
Hailing from La Salle, Que., 19-year-old Reeves played in 25 games last season, scoring five goals and 15 points.
The forward also collected two assists in four playoff games with the Pontiacs.
Also, the MOB received another forward heading east from the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons acquired Michael Hodge from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks also for future considerations.
Originally from Calgary, Alta., Hodge split 53 games between the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs last year.
The 19-year-old forward scored 10 goals and 25 points, as well as one goal in four playoff games.
Training camp for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons begins on August 22, 2019.
