Ice Make Flurry of Deals at Trade Deadline
February 7, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Indiana Ice News Release
INDIANAPOLIS-The Indiana Ice made multiple moves at the trade deadline to add some youth to the roster and improve their positionings for the upcoming USHL Futures and Main Entry Drafts coming up in May.
The Wednesday flurry saw the Ice deal forwards Austin Ortega, Drew Smolcynski and Brian Morgan in exchange for a plethora of high end draft picks in both the Futures Draft and Main Entry Draft in addition to future player considerations.
Ortega heads north to play for the Fargo Force, while Smolcynski and Morgan stay in the conference and are headed to the Chicago Steel and Muskegon Lumberjacks respectively.
"Obviously, it is looking like a huge challenge to gain in the playoff race this season with all the teams around us with so many games in hand," said Ice GM/Head Coach Jeff Brown. "Austin, Brian and Drew were three talented players who are bound for college next fall so we felt it was time for us to bring in players who can help us in the coming years and can also blend in our with our existing group."
With the deals, the Ice now has four picks in the first round of the 2013 USHL Main Entry Draft and four draft picks in the first two rounds of the 2013 USHL Futures Draft.
"By no means have we forgotten about this season, but these trades have given us an opportunity to stock our roster for next year and give us an excellent opportunity to improve our team for next season and years beyond with the extra high draft picks," said Brown.
The Ice added two players for the remainder of the season at the deadline as well in forwards Patrick Newell and Bryan Yim.
Newell was on the Ice affiliate list and was the top scoring 16-year-old in the NAHL as a member of the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. The St. Cloud State commit posted 22 points (10G, 12A) and three power play goals in 42 games. Yim was skating this season for the Port Huron Fighting Falcons of the NAHL and was third on the club in scoring with 24 points (8G, 16A) in 43 games.
"This year has been unknown territory for this franchise," said Brown. "The current group of 23 will continue to battle for a playoff spot this year and a Clark Cup run, while laying the foundation for our upcoming tenth anniversary season."
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United States Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2013
- With Roster Set, Phantoms Begin Playoff Push this Weekend - Youngstown Phantoms
- Lumberjacks Announce Roster Moves at USHL Trade Deadline - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- February Fun Starts Saturday with Vegas Night - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Black Hawks Make Deadline Deals - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Carmel Native to Make Ice Debut - Indiana Ice
- Ice Make Flurry of Deals at Trade Deadline - Indiana Ice
- Tri-City Acquires Ben Foster at Deadline - Tri-City Storm
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