Warriors deal for netminder

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

The West Kelowna Warriors have dealt goaltender Daniel Mannella to Melville of SJHL.

The West Kelowna Warriors have made a couple of moves in an effort to shore up their goaltending.

The Warriors, with a team goals against average of 3.86, sent 20-year-old netminder Daniel Mannella and 18-year-old defenceman Jake Tesarowski to the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

In exchange, the Warriors acquired the CJHL plying rights to 19-year-old goaltender Trevor Martin and future considerations.

Mannella, acquired in an off-season deal for Scott Patton, struggled early in the season with the Warriors. He posted a 1-2 record with a 5.44 goals against average and a .812 save percentage.

Martin, is currently with the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL, who are the hosts the 2016 Mastercard Memorial Cup.

Last season in Melville, Martin went 10-9, with a 2.15 goals against average and a .929 save percentage.

He also played all 6 playoff games for the Millionaires.

In a related move, the Warriors have added 20-year-old Stephen Heslop from the Princeton Posse of the KIJHL to round out the goaltending duo with Forbes Ploszaj.

Heslop, played six regular season games for the Warriors last season as an affiliate player, posting a 2.89 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.

He also saw action in three playoff games, including a 47 save performance in a triple overtime loss to the Penticton Vees.

Heslop and Ploszaj will share the netminding duties beginning Saturday night when the Warriors host the 5-0-1-0 Wenatchee Wild.

The Wild suffered the first blemish on their perfect start to the season Friday night, a 4-4 tie in Salmon Arm.