Vees make pair of trades

Photo: Penticton Vees

The Penticton Vees have announced a pair of trades.

The moves see 2000-born defenceman Evan McIntyre from the USHL’s Cedar Rapids Roughriders coming to Penticton in exchange for future considerations. 1998-born forward Ty Pochipinski also comes to the Vees in a four-team deal that sees defenceman Kenny Johnson moved to the Victoria Grizzlies.

To acquire Pochipinski the Vees swung a complex four-team trade involving five players.

McIntyre is a Oakville, Ontario native that’s been with the Roughriders since the beginning of the season scoring twice and adding five assists in 23 games played.

“Evan is an elite skater with strong vision and play making ability,” Vees head coach, general manager and president Fred Harbinson said. “He has a strong track record of producing points over his career.”

He will make his Vees debut Friday when the Powell River Kings visit the South Okanagan Events Centre.

Pochipinski, from Colorado Springs, spent two seasons with the Capitals leading them with 21 goals and finishing with 38 points in 58 games last year.

“Ty is a strong two-way centre who will be a great fit into our locker room and will bolster the depth of our lineup, which will be essential for a long playoff run,” Harbinson said.

Pochipinski’s dad, Trevor, was a member of the Penticton Knights in the 1985-86 season recording 30 points in 42 games and helping the Knights win the National Championship. Ty is expected to be in the lineup for Friday’s game.

“With the loss of two forwards for the remainder of the season, which would have left us with just 11 forwards when completely healthy, we had no choice but to move a defenceman,” Harbinson explained. “The fact that Kenny is a 20-year-old created a situation where he was the odd man out. This was by far the most difficult trade in my 12 years in Penticton, but it was a hockey trade that needed to be made. Kenny fortunately will land in a great spot in Victoria as he finishes his junior career.”