Prince George swaps Flames prospect for Ben Riche as WHL Trade Deadline approaches

Prince George, B.C.- Call it a spoil of Riches.

The Prince George Cougars have added high-scoring centreman Ben Riche in a major trade with the Saskatoon Blades.

The move sees Saskatoon gain Calgary Flames prospect Hunter Laing, the rights to 15-year-old defenceman Luke Dumas, a first-round pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft, and a fifth-round selection in 2028.

Riche, 19, is blowing his previous career totals out of the water with a breakout season.

The 5-foo-11, 180-pound forward has 23 goals (including three game-winners and four powerplay strikes) and 31 assists for 54 points and a +18  rating in 37 games.

“Ben is the type of player we were looking for,” Cougars General Manager and Head Coach Mark Lamb said. “He’s a dynamic left-shot centre with tremendous speed and offensive talent. He’s a real difference-maker.”

He led the Blades in all three offensive categories.

Bingo, bango, bongo! Riche has goals in four-straight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nO7BMBF2fz

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) January 1, 2025

The Bethune, Sask. product is currently riding a nine-game point streak that’s seen him pot 15 points (6G-9A), including an assist on Tyler Parr’s overtime goal against the rival Red Deer Rebels on Tuesday night.

Riche was originally drafted by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the second round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, playing parts of three seasons in the Friendly City before a brief pit stop in Victoria and an offseason trade to Saskatoon.

He has 107 points (46G-61A) in 170 career regular-season contests, in addition to 12 postseason appearances.

Riche has also committed to Quinnipiac University for 2026-27 upon the completion of his final WHL season.

Heading to Saskatoon is towering winger Hunter Laing.

The 6-foot-6, 209-pound forward cuts an imposing figure on the ice, registering 10 goals (two game winners and two powerplay goals) and 12 assists for 22 points and a +7 rating in 36 contests this season.

His 100th WHL game and Hunter Laing keeps this game tied at 3 @PGCougars | @NHLFlames pic.twitter.com/ocYtBbdZCY

— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 8, 2024

The Calgary Flames called Laing’s name in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in Las Vegas, Nev.

“Hunter brings a ton of size, leadership, tenacity, and excellent hands and skill to our club,” Blades General Manager and President Colin Priestner said. “He is 18 years old, so he is eligible to play with us for another 2 1/2 years. We feel he is just growing into his big frame and has the opportunity to play both centre and wing for us and be a big part of what we are trying to do over the next several years. I said on many occasions we would not move any of our top players without getting really good younger players back along with high draft picks, and this deal pretty much encapsulates that goal.”

Laing, 18, is in his second full WHL season after being called by the Cougars in the second round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.

He’s accumulated 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points in 110 games.

While Laing hails from Kelowna, his dad’s family is from the Land of Living Skies- he was even in Saskatchewan on the family farm, watching the NHL Draft on TV when he saw the Flames picked him.

Luke Dumas is a 15-year-old defenceman from Beaverlodge, Alta., who currently plays for the Titans Hockey Union in the JPHL.

Prince George (23-10-3-2) is 8-2-0-0 in its last 10 games to remain atop the B.C. Division standings and maintain their grasp on second place in the Western Conference.

The Cougars host the Vancouver Giants (19-15-4-0) for the second half of a back-to-back set on Wednesday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m. PST.

Saskatoon (22-12-2-2)  has won two straight games to remain in first place in the East Division and Eastern Conference.

The 2023 Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy winners continue a Central Division road trip in Edmonton (20-14-1-2) on Wednesday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m. MST.