T-Birds Acquire Keltie Jeri-Leon, Michael Horon and Draft Pick from Hurricanes
January 1, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT - Seattle Thunderbirds general manger Bil La Forge tonight announced the team has acquired center/right wing Keltie Jeri-Leon, prospect center/left wing Michael Horon, and a fourth round pick in the 2019 Bantam Draft from the Lethbridge Hurricanes for goalie Liam Hughes and an eighth round pick in the 2019 Bantam Draft.
"Having to trade Liam was a tough decision," said La Forge. "We know he will do well in Lethbridge and we wish him the best of luck."
Jeri-Leon, born in 2000, has played 30 games this season with the Hurricanes and has five goals and nine assists for 14 points. In 130 games over three seasons in the WHL with the Hurricanes, Kamloops Blazers and Tri-City Americans Jeri-Leon has 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points.
Horon, born in 2001, is currently playing for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the AMHL. Horon is leading the AMHL in scoring with 50 points on 25 goals and 25 assists in 21 games. His Hurricanes lost 4-3 to the St. Albert Raiders in the Mac's Midget Tournament Final tonight at the Scotiabank Bank Saddledome in Calgary. Horon had an assist in the game.
Horon was originally drafted by the Everett Silvertips in the ninth round, 190th overall, in the 2016 Bantam Draft when La Forge was the Director of Player Personnel for the Silvertips. Horon's rights were acquired by the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL from Everett on January 10, 2018, for a sixth round selection in the 2019 Bantam Draft. Horon signed a standard WHL Player Agreement with the WHL Hurricanes after being acquired.
Hughes has played 29 games this season for the T-Birds and has a 10-16-3-0 record with a 3.67 goals against average and a .899 save percentage. In 72 career WHL games with the T-Birds and Edmonton Oil Kings Hughes has a 27-32-10-1 record with a .903 save percentage and 3.37 goals against average.
The T-Birds start a six-game road trip to the East Division on Friday, January 4, against the Brandon Wheat Kings at 5:30pm. They will play the Regina Pats on Sunday, January 6, at 2pm in the second game of the road trip. The road trip continues against the Saskatoon Blades on Tuesday, January 8, and the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday, January 9. The last two games on the road trip are Friday, January 11, against the Moose Jaw Warriors and Saturday, January 12 against the Swift Current Broncos.
The T-Birds next home game is Saturday, January 19, against the Victoria Royals at 6:05pm at accesso ShoWare Center. Single game tickets are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.
The T-Birds are now taking orders for Flex-24 Ticket packages. Fans that purchase the 24-Flex Ticket Package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2018-19 season.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2019
- Pats Stopped by Raiders to Open 2019 - Regina Pats
- T-Birds Acquire Keltie Jeri-Leon, Michael Horon and Draft Pick from Hurricanes - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hurricanes Acquire Hughes from Thunderbirds - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Blades Defeat Broncos in New Years Day Matinee - Swift Current Broncos
- Blades Open 2019 with a Bang - Saskatoon Blades
- Giants Fall 3-1 in Edmonton to Kick off 2019 - Vancouver Giants
- Raiders Open 2019 With A Win In Regina - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hitmen Power past Royals, 6-3 - Calgary Hitmen
- Royals Tripped up by Hitmen - Victoria Royals
- No Time Like the Present for the Rebels to Get Back in Gear - Red Deer Rebels
- Silvertips Acquire 27-Goal Scorer and Left Wing Zack Andrusiak from the Seattle Thunderbirds - Everett Silvertips
- T-Birds Acquire Sean Richards, Prospect Forward, and 3 Draft Picks from Everett - Seattle Thunderbirds
- T-Birds Sign Goalie Roddy Ross - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Preview: Blades Host Broncos in New Year's Matinee - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Tuesday, January 1 vs. Victoria - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Kick off 2019 at Home to Prince Albert New Years Day - Regina Pats
- Hawks Ring in 2019 with a Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Ams Ring in New Year with Dominate 6-1 Win over Chiefs - Tri-City Americans
- Winterhawks Down T-Birds in Annual New Year's Eve Game - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Jesse Makaj Named December's Player of the Month Presented by Jewels on Ninth - Kootenay Ice
- Penny Coyle Named December's Community Member of the Month Presented by Spring Honda - Kootenay Ice
- Royals Ring in New Year with OT Victory over ICE - Kootenay Ice
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