The Coquitlam Adanacs countered the pre-deadline trade moves by New Westminster in the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League.
The junior Adanacs acquired Nanaimo goalie Peter Dubenski and the Timbermen’s top scorer Brett Hawrys at the June 30 trade deadline for the Minto Cup playoff run in return for the playing rights to four intermediate prospects and a 2015 draft pick, including Mitchell McDole, who is currently leading the A league in scoring this season.
Hawrys, a lefty, posted 37 goals and 67 points this season. Dubenski had a 78.07 save percentage with the Timbermen.
Coquitlam also swapped future draft picks, including a first-round pick in 2016, with Langley to get James Rahe for the playoff run.
Rahe, a big and athletic righthander, led the Thunder with 40 goals and 81 assists this year.
Earlier, Coquitlam also picked up Delta lefthander Eli McLaughlin, who last year made a significant contribution towards helping New Westminster make a run to the Minto Cup final.
Last week, New Westminster also made a trade with Langley that moved Brett Dobray to the junior ’Bellies for the playoff push.
Dobray has 25 goals and 40 points with Langley this season.
The Salmonbellies also acquired a goalie from the Ontario league, picking up Eric Penney from the St. Catharine’s Athletics prior to the deadline.
Penney posted a 5-9 win/loss record in goal and a .734 save percentage with the Athletics in the Ontario junior A league this season.
“(Penney) is a beauty,” said New Westminster junior A president Walt Weaver. “We’re happy with our team. We have what I consider is the deepest team.”
But Coquitlam has significantly improved its lineup, Weaver conceeded.
“Oh yeah, certainly their players are quality players. It helps their left side – both (Hawrys and Rahe) are quality players.”
Victoria also made a deal with Langley, trading away a couple of draft picks in 2016 for the rights to Brendan Mykle-Winkler and defender Alex Margetson.
But the real winners will be the fans, added Weaver.
“I’m excited to see the opportunities the playoffs offer these players,” he said.
In other moves, Burnaby dealt holdout Tyler Buchan to the Langley Thunder for future considerations.
New Westminster closes out its regular season schedule on Sunday at Queen’s Park Arena against the Victoria Shamrocks. Game time is at 5 p.m.
The Burnaby Lakers take on the Nanaimo Timbermen at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre in their final regular season game this season. Game time is also at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
