The Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins were busy Friday, making moves ahead of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Trade Deadline, with six players moving out, and a new six coming in.
Moving out
Cade Kennedy
The headlining move of the day saw Bruins’ captain, Cade Kennedy traded to the Humboldt Broncos in exchange for a Player Development Fee (PDF). Kennedy registered 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 30 games this season, prior to the trade.
A native of nearby Regina, Kennedy was acquired by the Bruins ahead of last year’s trade deadline and was named captain of the team prior to the start of the 2024-25 season. He joins a Broncos’ squad looking to solidify a playoff position down the stretch, following another big acquisition by Humboldt last week to secure Dazza Mitchell from Weyburn.
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Michael Carter
Twenty-year-old blue liner and assistant captain, Michael Carter was also traded to a Nutrien Division team with post-season aspirations, going to the Battlefords North Stars in exchange for a PDF.
A veteran of more than 100 career Junior games split between the Lindsay Muskies of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and Lloyd Bobcats of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) prior to joining the B’s this fall, Carter registered eight points (two goals, six assists) in 24 games with Estevan this season, prior to the trade.
“Those teams (Humboldt and Battlefords) really wanted Kennedy and Carter, so they were pretty persistent,” Bruins’ head coach and GM, Jason Tatarnic said of the moves. “We talked to the players and they both wanted to stay, but they also both wanted to go; there was a bit of mixed emotions, but we talked about it and we thought [the moves] were what was in the best interest of the players and the team.”
Luke Lawford
The Bruins’ lone player-for-player move of the day saw 18-year-old defenceman, Luke Lawford traded to Notre Dame for 19-year-old Ethan Andrews in a one-for-one swap of two excellent-skating defensemen.
Lawford registered one goal in 16 games as a Bruin, in this his first season of SJHL play. Tatarnic said the move was about giving Lawford a chance to play more minutes in a new situation.
“Lawford is a young player who need to play,” Tatarnic said. “He’s going to a place where he’s going to play more minutes, because with Potter being reassigned (details below in article) and Andrews coming in, that would make it tough. At that age he needs to play and develop so that was the reason behind that one.”
Andrews brings another veteran to the Bruins’ blue line, with just over 70 games’ experience in the SJHL split between Notre Dame, La Ronge and Flin Flon. In 32 games with the Hounds this season, Andrews posted 11 points (two goals, nine assists).
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Cole Robertson
A big acquisition by the Bruins earlier this season, Robertson was traded to the Virden Oil Capitals of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) in exchange for a PDF.
In 16 games donning the ‘Spoked-B’, Robertson registered four points (two goals, two assists). The trade gives the scoring winger a fresh start with a Virden team just outside the playoff cutoff, looking to make a push down the stretch.
The Bruins’ organization would like to thank each of the players moving on for their contributions to the team during their time in Estevan, and wish them well in the next chapter of their hockey careers.
NEW ACQUISITIONS
Beck Boiteau
With the exodus of Ben Polhill to the BCHL (see details below in article), the Bruins acquired 18-year-old goaltender, Beck Boiteau from the Whitecourt Wolverines of the AJHL in exchange for a PDF.
Boiteau posted a 2-1-0 record in four games with Whitecourt prior to the trade, along with a 2.99 goals against average and .906 save percentage. Tatarnic said he’s looking forward to seeing what he can do with a bit more opportunity in Estevan.
“He’s been in the WHL already this year and he played very well for Whitecourt when he played some games there,” Tatarnic said. “We liked him when we watched him and we think he’s going to be a good goaltender. For me, age doesn’t really matter and we think he can be a pretty solid goalie at this level.”
Rylan Ringor
A 20-year-old forward from Winnipeg, MB., Ringor was acquired from the Dauphin Kings of the MJHL in exchange for a PDF.
The twin brother of Flin Flon’s star centerman, Ryder Ringor, Rylan has also shown an ability to score points in the Junior ranks, having registered 114 points (32 goals, 82 assists) in 197 career Junior games split between Winnipeg and Dauphin of the MJHL, Fort McMurray and Devon of the AJHL and Melfort of the SJHL.
“With Rylan, we had some 20-year-old room and he became available so we thought we’d jump on it,” Tatarnic said. “He’s got some skill and we saw what he did in Melfort with his point production (eight points in nine games) so we thought we’d bring him in. Give the kid credit – he’s driving down from Dauphin today [Friday] and he wants to play tonight, so he’ll be thrown right into the fire.”
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Caleb Potter
Defenceman Caleb Potter joins the Bruins after being re-assigned from the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The 17-year-old was a 2nd Round pick of the Bruins (#24 overall) in the 2022 SJHL U15 Draft, and posted two points (one goal, one assist) in 26 games with Swift Current this year prior to re-assignment.
Steven Steranka
A 17-year-old forward from Regina, SK., Steranka was reassigned from the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL to the Bruins Friday. A 1st Round pick of the Bruins (#12 overall) back in the 2022 SJHL U15 Draft, Steranka posted seven points (two goals, five assists) in 25 games with the Rebels this season prior to the re-assignment.
Head coach, Jason Tatarnic said while he expects both Potter and Sternaka to be back in the WHL next year, they provide youth and some added skill to the team for the remainder of the season.
“Caleb and Steven are both kids we drafted, both had an opportunity to play at 16 but stayed at the U18 level, and both can play at the Major Junior level, may just need a little more time,” Tatarnic said. “They’re pretty dynamic players; they’re young but they’ve got quite a bit of skill and I think that will help us.”
Kanye Huang
In the Bruins’ final move of the day, the team acquired forward, Kanye Huang from the Golden Rockets of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) in exchange for a PDF.
At 18 years of age, Huang posted 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 29 games with the Rockets this season, prior to the trade. A product of Saskatoon, the move brings the forward back to his home province and is expected to join the team this week.
The Bruins would like to welcome each of the new faces to Estevan, and are looking forward to the final stretch of the 2024-25 season.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY MOVES
In addition to the aforementioned trades, the Bruins also lost a pair of players to other hockey opportunities, Friday.
Starting goaltender, Ben Polhill left to join the Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), while Cody Polumbus went back to the U.S. to join a team in the NCDC (National Collegiate Development Conference).
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Marty Martinson/Estevan Bruins PxP & Marketing Director
On X: @MartyMartyPxP1