After a start to the season that has been below expectations through the first 23 games of the season, the Kindersley Klippers Jr Klippers made two different trades Monday that send away two 20-year-olds, captain Mark Snarr to the Melfort Mustangs and assistant captain Jack Michell to the Nipawin Hawks.
Michell's trade was announced first, and along with Michell the Klippers gave up a 3rd round draft pick next year, a player development fee, and future considerations in exchange for 19 year old defenceman Josh Morton and a 4th round pick.
Michell has played 23 games this season with the Klippers so far and has earned seven assists and only been in the penalty box for ten minutes. The smooth skating defenceman has spent some time on the powerplay and has been relied on as a stay at home defender throughout the season. He's in his second years with the Klippers after being acquired from the Flin Flon Bombers at the end of the 2019-20 season. Before being acquired by Flin Flon in his first season, Michell was a part of the Estevan Bruins for the first 33 games of their first season.
As for the Snarr trade, he heads to the Melfort Mustangs in exchange for 19 year old defenceman Brayden Koch and 2005 born prospect Karson Blanchette. Snarr is in his third season with the Klippers and earned his first goal of his junior career in the first game of the year. He's been in all 24 games with the Klippers this season and has appeared in 78 straight games across the last three seasons for the Klippers. While he has lead the rush offensively at times this year, his main upside comes from his stay at home defensive ability.
Aside from the trades, the Klippers also acquired Dugald, Manitoba native Andrew Blocker from the La Ronge Ice Wolves in exchange for a player development fee. Blocker is technically in his second season of the SJHL after not being able to play last year, and in his 21 games this year he's earned two goals and an assist, along with 2s minutes in penalties.
"Andrew has a very high compete level," says Klippers Assistant Coach Mitch Topinka. "He's a player that brings his work pale to the rink every day as well as an offensive upside to his game."
From left to right: Josh Morton, Karson Blanchette, and Brayden Koch. (Photos courtesy of Nipawin Hawks on Twitter, Jeff D'Andrea/paNow, and Broad Leaf Media respectively.)As for the acquisitions, 19-year-old Spruce Grove, Alberta native Josh Morton from the Nipawin Hawks brings in some much needed grit to the backend. In 20 games so far this season, Morton has amassed just four points, a goal and three assists, for the Hawks, but his 78 penalty minutes stand out as part of the physical presence he brings to the table standing at 6'3 192lbs.
"Josh is the physical element that we think we need to add. Hard working, gritty, tough defenceman that doesn't back down and something that we thought we needed if we could get it," said Klippers Head Coach and GM Ken Plaquin.
Coming from the trade for Snarr is 02 born Brayden Koch from Lloydminster, Alberta in his first season in the SJHL, a smaller defenceman at 5'10 170lbs, but more of a smooth skating stay at home type of defenceman that has good offensive instincts to boot. In seven games, he's earned a goal and an assist for the Mustangs along with six penalty minutes.
Also acquired in the trade with Melfort is 2005 born Unity native Karson Blanchette. The 16-year-old has nine points in 17 games with the Prince Albert Mintos AAA program. He's also a 4th round draft pick of the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL.
Fri, Apr 26, 7:30 PM
