CRESTON VALLEY THUNDER CATS

Dylan Rantucci (D) was traded to Nelson for future considerationsDuring his tenure, Cats Head Coach and General Manager Nick Redding has slowly started to put his stamp on the team that Brad Tobin built. He has made five trades in total moving out five players and bringing in six in return.

The rights to Justen James (F) was sent to Campbell River for Logan Berggren (F) and Eric Samyn (G)

Brody Ryan (F) was acquired by the

Medicine Hat Cubs of the Heritage Junior Hockey League

Kason Furukawa to Campbell

River for Austin Dennison (F) and Braunson Holloway (D)

Keenan McElroy (D) to Castlegar for

Jordan Wood (F) and Kjell Furland (D)

Berggren and Samyn have been the longest tenured Cats out of the new acquisitions and both have performed well for Creston. Berggren got off to a blazing start with eight points (3+5=8) in his first five games. The 6’3, 200lb forward from Cypress California has cooled off a little but still puts up consistent numbers with 15 points (5+10=15) in his first 12 games played. Samyn hails all the way from Winnipeg, Manitoba and has put up decent numbers despite a losing record. He got his first win in his first game against the Chase Heat making 25 saves in a 4-3 victory. Since then, at the point this was written, he sports an 0-4 record as the whole team went on a 6-game slide, but overall has played well for the Cats with a 3.72 goals against average and a .897 save percentage.

Dennison and Holloway were both a part of the second trade with the Campbell River Storm. Dennison, another import, is from Missoula Montana and coach Redding was familiar with him from when he played in the Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy. He notched his first KI goal on the road against Summerland, and has put up three points (2+1=3) in seven games with the team. Holloway started the season in the KIJHL with the Kimberley Dynamiters before being traded to Campbell River. The 18-year-old from Calgary, AB possesses a booming shot and isn’t afraid to throw the body around. Yet to register a point with the Cats through seven games, he had one assist with the Storm in four games.

The acquisition of Wood and

Furland is the most recent trade for Redding. With Wood, he saw an opportunity to bring in not only a skilled forward, but a local boy who was wanting to play in the town he grew up in. After scoring four goals in 12 games with the Rebels, five games in and he’s still looking for his first goal as a TCat but does have one assist. The Thunder Cats are Furland’s third team this season. He started the year with Grand Forks before being moved after three games. He played 10 with the Rebels and, at the point of this writing, has now suited up for seven games for Creston. Still looking for his first KIJHL point, the 17-yearold from Cranbrook, BC has played in every game since being acquired and looks to be a staple on the Cats’ back end. ♥

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