The Canmore Eagles have added some size to their blueline by acquiring 6-foot-3, 215-pound defenceman Alex Barnes from the Olds Grizzlys in exchange for Chris Stachiw.
Stachiw missed time due to injury, but was arguably the team’s best defenceman through stretches of last season, where he scored three goals and had 12 assists in 46 games.
Barnes scored twice and added seven assists in 50 games for the Grizzlys. He also recorded 62 penalty minutes.
“We would like to thank Chris for all his hard work and effort while he was in Canmore,” said head coach and general manager Andrew Milne. “We think this is a good trade for everyone involved.
“We had to give up a little offence, but we gained a big, stay-at-home, shut-down type defenceman. Alex gives us a little more size in front of our net and should see a lot of ice time against the other team’s top lines.”
In other Eagles news, several players from the 2010/2011 season have received invitations to play college hockey. Kory Roy will return to his hometown to play NCAA Division I hockey for the University of Alaska-Anchorage. Last season, Roy scored 30 goals and had 33 assists in 63 games, ranking him among the league’s leaders. He was most productive playing with Cody Cartier and Brian Doust.
Doust will also play college hockey next season, as he’s slated to lace up for the SUNY Fredonia Blue Devils in Fredonia, New York.
He was one of the league’s most prolific scorers last year, notching 57 points in 43 games before he was sidelined with a knee injury. He returned for the playoffs, where he scored two points in three games, and should be expected to light it up in NCAA Division III hockey.
Goaltender Steve Papciak has also found a home at St. Olaf College in Northfield Minn., where he’ll also play NCAA Division III hockey.
The Eagles’ late season addition Josh Martin has committed to Marian University.
The Eagles upcoming season begins on Sept. 9, but their first home game won’t take place until September 17 agains the champion Spruce Grove Saints. Training camp will open on August 22 with 80 players taking part in fitness testing at the Alex Kaleta Arena.
