Trade winds send Yager, Unger to Lethbridge in blockbuster deal

The Lethbridge Hurricanes delivered a clear message to Western Hockey League rivals – they’re in it to win it.

The Hurricanes sent a shockwave through the WHL on Monday with the acquisition of WHL Champions Brayden Yager and Jackson Unger from the Moose Jaw Warriors in a swap that saw five players and six draft picks trading places.

In order to acquire the services of Yager – a highly touted Winnipeg Jets prospect – and veteran netminder Unger, the Hurricanes sent a massive package to Moose Jaw, including 18-year-old forward Landen Ward, 19-year-old netminder Brady Smith, 15-year-old prospect Colt Carter, two first-round picks (2025, 2028), a second-round pick (2028), a third-round pick (2025), a fourth-round pick (2026), and a fifth-round pick (2026).

The addition of Yager and Unger immediately signals the Hurricanes intentions for 2024-25.

Yager, who turns 20 on January 3, was named Warriors captain on October 3 and led the team in scoring with 30 points (11G-19A) in 21 games. The 6-foot, 170-pound product of Saskatoon, Sask., represented Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship and was named to Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship Monday morning.

Selected by the Warriors with the third overall pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Yager has been nothing short of sensational over five WHL seasons.

“We’re very excited to be able to add Brayden to our group,” said Peter Anholt, General Manager of the Hurricanes. “He is one of the premier players in junior hockey, he’s a World Junior guy and knows what it takes to win at our level. He is going to be a great addition and is going to help our team one very way.”

 

YAGER 💣 #11@NHLJets pic.twitter.com/dLj0HBOSdH

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) November 24, 2024

After making his debut during the WHL hub season in 2020-21, Yager followed up in 2021-22 by winning the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL Rookie of the Year. He is also a two-time winner of the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy, awarded to the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player (2022-23, 2023-24).

The 2023-24 campaign represented Yager’s best in the WHL thus far. In 57 regular season games, the two-way centre collected 95 points (35G-60A) and was named to the WHL East Division Second All-Star team. It was the second 30-goal season for Yager, who previously tallied 34 goals in 2021-22.

Yager’s 34 goals in 2021-22 went into the Moose Jaw Warriors history books as the most goals scored by a 16-year-old in franchise history. The mark had previously been held by Theoren Fleury, who registered 29 goals as a 16-year-old in 1984-85.

Yager followed up his impressive 2023-24 regular season by playing a critical role for the Warriors as they marched to a franchise first Ed Chynoweth Cup – contributing 27 points (11G-16A) and a plus-10 rating in 20 games. Though Moose Jaw ultimately fell short at the 2024 Memorial Cup in Saginaw, Yager once again had a major impact, notching six points (3G-3A) in four games.

Selected 14th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 NHL Draft, Yager was traded to the Winnipeg Jets this past summer.

In 232 career WHL regular season games, he has recorded 280 points (115G-165A) and a plus-31 rating.

 

YAGER BOMB 💣 pic.twitter.com/koXiJXdfL5

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) August 22, 2024

Between the pipes, the Hurricanes add an experienced WHL veteran in Unger, who also played an important role in the Warriors run to the 2024 WHL Championship.

“Jackson is a championship goaltender and him being in the deal was a big part of us making this trade,” Anholt said. “He’s proven himself as one of the top-end goaltenders in our league, was a first-team all-star last year and we think he is going to steady our goaltending while also being able to help [Koen] Cleaver develop.”

Hailing from Calgary, Alta., the 6-foot-1, 197-pound Unger owns a career record of 62-49-3-3 with a 3.64 goals-against average.

Unger, who is set to turn 20 on January 13, was a WHL East Division First Team All-Star in 2023-24, going 35-15-0-2 with a 3.08 GAA, .908 SV%, and three shutouts.

The veteran puckstopper proved steady as the Warriors won a franchise first WHL Championship, going 16-1-2-0 with a 2.90 GAA and .910 SV%.

Unger was originally selected by the Warriors in the third round (53rd overall) of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.

 

Your best penalty killer needs to be your goaltender

Jackson Unger makes his case pic.twitter.com/rYFkh6MsjJ

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) October 30, 2024

For the Warriors, who gave up plenty of draft picks and future assets on the road to last year’s WHL Championship, this trade marks the beginning of a restocking of the cupboards by General Manager Jason Ripplinger.

“This trade brings us two players with experience and good leadership qualities,” Ripplinger said. “Ward brings us more size and plays a hard, physical game. Smith has played some big games in the WHL and brings depth to our goaltending position. In acquiring Carter, we receive a highly skilled defenceman who skates well, has a great hockey season, and will add more depth to our 2009 group, which we had limited picks in.

“We would like to thank Brayden and Jackson for all of their contributions to our organization and our community. Both were key figures to our championship team last season and the years leading up to it. We wish them both all the best in the future.”

Set to step into the Moose Jaw lineup immediately is the 6-foot-3, 214-pound presence of Ward. The 18-year-old forward from Lloydminster, Alta., was originally a fourth-round pick (83rd overall) of the Hurricanes in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft and has 86 career WHL regular season games under his belt.

The Warriors crease will also be bolstered with the addition of Smith, a 19-year-old puckstopper hailing from Cloverdale, B.C. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound netminder has appeared in 16 of the Hurricanes 24 games to date, going 8-4-1-1 with a 3.31 GAA.

Originally selected by the Hurricanes in the sixth round (123rd overall) of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Smith owns a career record of 14-11-2-1 with a 3.49 GAA.

Aside from the bevy of draft picks, the Warriors also acquire Carter, a 15-year-old prospect defenceman, currently skating with the St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA squad.

The 5-foot-7, 137-pound rearguard was selected by the Hurricanes in the sixth round (132nd overall) of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft. During the 2023-24 season, Carter led all defencemen in scoring in the Alberta Elite Hockey League’s U15 division, notching 55 points (25G-30A) in 34 games. He helped his St. Albert Sabres U15 AAA team win the AEHL U15 Championship and was named AEHL U15 Playoff MVP after recording 22 points (7G-15A) in nine contests.

“It’s tough to trade good people and important pieces of your team at any point, especially now,” Anholt said. “Both Brady and Landen have been key guys in their role for our team over the last two years and were important in helping us, not only make the playoffs last year, but have a good start to the season this year. Both the Ward and Smith families have also been outstanding. They have been great supporters of our program and first-class people in their time with our organization.

“Carter is a good young player who we took in the draft last year and really liked, but you have to give quality to get quality back. We really would like to wish all three, Brady, Landen, and Colt, the very best in their hockey careers.”

At the time of the trade, the Hurricanes sit fourth in a Central Division that is shaping up to be heavily contested over the duration of the 2024-25 season. With games in hand on the three Clubs ahead of them in the standings, Lethbridge is 12-10-1-1 (26 points). The Medicine Hat Tigers lead the Central Division with a record of 15-11-1-0 (31 points), followed closely by the Calgary Hitmen (13-8-3-1, 30 points) and Red Deer Rebels (12-10-1-2, 27 points). With a record of 12-12-1-1 (26 points), the fifth-place Edmonton Oil Kings are right on the heels of the Hurricanes. All five Central Division teams are currently holding down playoff positioning in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.

Fans of both teams won’t have to wait long to see their new players in action as the Hurricanes host the Warriors Tuesday, December 3 (7 p.m. MT) at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

Welcome to Lethbridge, Brayden Yager🙌 pic.twitter.com/FTkaxGQ2Be

— Lethbridge Hurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) December 2, 2024