
T-Birds Acquire Zach Ashton and Draft Pick from Blades
January 2, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT - Seattle Thunderbirds general manager Bil La Forge today announced the team has acquired defenseman Zack Ashton and a fifth round pick in the 2022 Bantam Draft from the Saskatoon Blades for defenseman Reece Harsch.
"We're excited to add Zach to our roster," said La Forge. "He was a point a game defenseman in midget last year and is another player we are adding who has an offensive pedigree."
"Both Zach and Reece will get a fresh start with new teams," continued La Forge. "Reece had a good T-Birds career and we wish him the best of luck with the Blades."
Ashton, born in 2001, has played nine games this season with the Blades and has one assist. Last season he played 35 games for the Calgary Buffaloes Midget AAA team in the AMHL and had five goals and 26 assists for 31 points. Ashton was selected by the Blades in the third round, 50th overall, in the 2016 Bantam Draft.
This season Harsch has two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 28 games. In 149 games over three seasons Harsch has 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points.
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 2, 2019
- Prince Albert Raiders Enter 2019 at Helm of Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings - WHL
- Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre Hosts Another World Class Event and Economic Impact Felt Around Island - Victoria Royals
- Americans Acquire Center Nick Bowman in Trade with Ice - Tri-City Americans
- Silvertips Recall Left Winger Justyn Gurney from the Surrey Eagles of the BCHL - Everett Silvertips
- ICE Acquire Sixth Round Draft Pick for Bowman - Kootenay Ice
- Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings Unveiled - WHL
- Blades Send Bafaro to Vancouver for Draft Pick - Saskatoon Blades
- Giants Acquire 2000-Born Defenceman Seth Bafaro in a Trade with the Blades - Vancouver Giants
- Goaltender Dustin Wolf of the Silvertips Named Western Hockey League Vaughn Goaltender of the Month - Everett Silvertips
- Blichfeld Named WHL Player of the Month - Portland Winterhawks
- Silvertips' Wolf Named WHL Vaughn Goaltender of the Month - WHL
- Winterhawks' Blichfeld Named WHL McSweeney's Player of the Month - WHL
- Raiders Sign Cole Nagy - Prince Albert Raiders
- Blades Acquire Reece Harsch from Thunderbirds - Saskatoon Blades
- T-Birds Acquire Zach Ashton and Draft Pick from Blades - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Warriors' Tracey Named WHL Rookie of the Month - WHL
- Prospect Graham Sward Added to Chiefs Roster - Spokane Chiefs
- Chiefs Acquire Goalie Reece Klassen from Lethbridge - Spokane Chiefs
- Hurricanes Trade Klassen to Spokane - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Weatherill out for Remainder of 2018-19 Season - Spokane Chiefs
- Higson Designated for Assingment - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game 39 vs Vancouver - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hawks Sign Prospect Dawson Pasternak - Portland Winterhawks
- All Walk-Up Ticket Proceeds to Help Current and Former ICE Players in ICE Education Fund Night Presented by Cranbrook KIA - Kootenay Ice
- Cougars Call up Top Pick Armstrong - Prince George Cougars
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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