Cougars Acquire Setoguchi From Saskatoon in WHL Blockbuster
PRINCE GEORGE, BC – The Prince George Cougars have announced the acquisition of 19 year old RW Devin Setoguchi of the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for Stefan Elliot and a 1st round Bantam selection in 2008. Elliot was the Cougars 12th overall selection in 2006 WHL Bantam Draft.
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rSetoguchi, a 6’0, 195lbs. product of Taber, AB, was the San Jose Sharks 8th overall selection in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Setoguchi, who registered 36 goals, 47 assists, 83 points, and +17 rating in 65 games last season with the Blades, was the WHL’s player of the month in November 2005 and was a member of Team WHL at the 2005 Canada/Russia Challenge.
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râAcquiring Devin Setoguchi at this early juncture in the season makes this a very exciting day for our franchise. Devin will fit in extremely well with the talent and depth on our forward linesâ?, states Cougars GM Dallas Thompson. âHe will be heavily counted on to help our team achieve our goalsâ?, finishes Thompson.
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rBlades Head Coach and General Manager Lorne Molleken also commented on the trade of Setoguchi. âWith this year of transition here in Saskatoon we felt that this move was one which allows us to strengthen our hockey club for the future by acquiring a player who we believe will be an elite player in our league for sometime to come. In regards to Devin we feel that this move will give him the opportunity to have a very successful conclusion to his junior career, we wish him the best of the luck and thank him
rfor his outstanding contributions to the Saskatoon Blades Hockey Club on and off the ice.â?
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rComing back the other way the Blades the receive the 12th overall selection in the 06′ Bantam Draft in Stefan Elliott an elite defenseman prospect who hails from North Vancouver, B.C. This season the 6’1 175lbs d-man will play with the Vancouver Giants Major Midget team. Blades Director of Player Personnel Paul Olekszyk commented â We are extremely excited to acquire this elite player. He is an exceptional skater who is extremely smart and creative with an outstanding skill set comparable to that of (former Medicine Hat Tigers and current Florida Panthers defenseman) Jay Bouwmeester,” Olekszyk adds, “He will be an underage defenseman with Team B.C. at the Canada Winter Games this winter and we had him pegged as one of the top defensemen available in the past Bantam Draft. We a very excited to welcome Stefan and his family to the Saskatoon Blades organization.â?
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rSetoguchi is expected to be in the Cougars line-up when they face off with the Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday, October 10 at the CN Centre.
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rSASKATOON SHIPS SCHULZ TO KELOWNA
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rIn a separate deal, the Blades also announced that they have dealt 20-
ryear-old defenseman David Schulz to Kelowna Rockets in exchange for a 5th round selection
rin the 2007 WHL Bantam draft.
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rSchulz, a 6’4 210lbs defenseman was obtained by the team in a blockbuster deal last season
rfrom the Spokane Chiefs which saw Schulz, Joe Logan, Jim Watt and Chad Klassen
rcome to the Bridge City in exchange for d-man Evan Haw, goaltender Kevin Armstrong and
rdraft picks. Schulz a former 8th round pick of the Vancouver Canucks attended the Edmonton
rOilers camp this past year and upon his return to the Blades he appeared in a pair
rof games this season picking up 2 assists.
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rBlades Head Coach and General Manager Lorne Molleken spoke on today’s trade, âThis trade allows David a chance to go to a young team and provide leadership and add a large presence to the backend in Kelowna. We would like to thank David for his contribution to our hockey club and wish him the best of luck in the future.â?
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