A big, big trade between the Regina Pats and Vancouver Giants was announced this morning. The Pats dealt some of their blue-line and forward depth, and receive a much-needed scoring center and an import d-man in return. Here's the news release from the Pats - please excuse the butchery of the language, I'm just cutting and pasting on this one:
PATS & GIANTS MAKE TRADE
Regina, Saskatchewan - Thursday, September 27th, the Regina Pats announced this morning that they have made a four player trade with the Vancouver Giants. The Regina Pats are shipping forward Mike Reich and defencemen Craig Schira to Vancouver, in exchange for forward Tim Kraus and defencemen Juraj Valach.
Reich, the native of Craik SK, has appeared in 2 games with the Pats this season, and has accumulated 7 penalty minutes. Reich (5'10", 185lb) suited up for 61 games with the Pats last season, collecting 15 goals and 7 assists, also racking up 187 penalty minutes.
Schira, the native of Spiritwood, SK, had been with the Pats organization for 4 years, collecting a total of 68 points in 206 games played. Schira was originally drafted by Pats in 2003 WHL Bantam Draft, when he was drafted in the 6th round, 111th overall. This season, Schira had collected 1 assist in 2 games played with the Pats.
In exchange, the Pats receive two players, headlined by 20-year old Tim Kraus. Kraus comes to the Pats after being the 2nd leading scorer on the Giants last season. He collected 19 goals and 47 assists for 66 points in 70 games. The 6'0", 180lb product of Garden Grove, CA, Kraus brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch to the Pats line-up.
With the move, the Pats also fill their 2nd import roster spot by bringing in Juraj Valach, a native of Zvolen, Slovkia. 18 year-old Valach (6'6",210lb) is playing in his second campaign in the WHL, having collected 7 goals and 23 assists in 58 games with the Tri City Americans last season. So far this season, Valach has 1 goal and 3 assists in 2 games played with the Giants.
"We are excited about what Tim Kraus and Juraj Valach will bring to our hockey club. Having said that we are losing two talented players and tremendous young men in Craig and Mike. It is no secret that we were looking to add another scoring forward and to get top players you have to give up good players in return. I believe that this will be a good deal for both team and I wish Craig and Mike nothing but success in Vancouver and in their hockey careers" - Commented Pats General Manager Brent Parker.
4 comments:
WOW...............I expected something but not this soon.
The Pats coveted Kraus. He is a veteran scoring center with proven experience in a championship program. He is also a good plus/minus player. I know nothing of the other guy but he makes them bigger on the back end.
WOW...helluva trade.
I hope Kraus' well-documented "attitude problems" are behind him. Apparently Valach can be a bit of problem in that area, too. Curtis needs to lay down the law immediately with these two, and if they buy in - things are looking pretty good!
I didn't know they were problem children!! Your right that the law has to come down hard and quick. The guys won't be able to hide in Regina. Hell if they are in the rehabilitation mode maybe they should bring in Keegan Dansureau. Then they board them all with Tod Strueby or RPS cells....lol
Kraus seems to have got the message after his benching at the Memorial Cup. Valach has been traded twice in three months - hopefully the light is coming on for him as well.
I'd take Dansereau in a second if his head was on straight!
Just what Struebs needs - more mouths to feed!
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