The Kelowna Rockets have made their second and third trades of the day.
A couple of hours after dealing Jordan Borstmayer to the Vancouver Giants, GM Bruce Hamilton announced a pair of trades involving over-agers.
The Rockets dealt Riley Stadel to the Edmonton Oil Kings in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
#Rockets deal Stadel to @EdmOilKings. #Stades #Tradedeadline
📸 - @Marissa_Baecker pic.twitter.com/QD4mXBA3Dx— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 6, 2017
The team then turned around and dealt a package of draft picks, including a conditional first-round pick, to the Prince Albert Raiders for 20-year-old forward Reid Gardiner.
“We had an opportunity to acquire one of the league’s best scorers over the last few seasons,” said Hamilton. “He has been playing in the AHL, but will be coming to Kelowna to play for the Rockets.”
Gardiner will join his younger brother Erik, who came to the Rockets from the Regina Pats in the James Hilsendager trade.
“He’s excited about the opportunity to play for a competitive team with high-end teammates and with his brother Erik,” Hamilton added.
#Rockets acquire Reid Gardiner from @PARaidersHockey #Tradedeadline #WHL #CityofRockets 📸 - Lucas Chudleigh pic.twitter.com/ekSFLsoiPP
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 6, 2017
Gardiner has three goals and six points in 26 games this year with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
In 262 career WHL games with the Raiders, Gardiner had 106 goals and 220 points.
“For us he brings something we’ve been missing in that he’s a pure shooter,” explained Hamilton. “We’re in arguably the toughest division in the WHL so he adds more depth to our roster.”
congrats to my brother @Erik_Gardiner12 on his first whl goal !! Grab that puck @Kelowna_Rockets
— Reid Gardiner (@reidgardiner19) December 17, 2016
Gardiner is expected to join the team for their Saturday night home game against the Kamloops Blazers.
The Rockets are in Kamloops on Friday for the first half of that home and home series.
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