Thunder Strengthens Both Sides Of Puck In Trade
December 29, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Thunder bolstered their roster in a trade with the Mississippi RiverKings on Tuesday, acquiring defenseman Steve Makway, forward Kevin Cooper, and goaltender Ian Keserich.
Makway currently ranks third in the CHL among defensemen with 24 points, and first with 20 assists. After spending two seasons with the RiverKings from 2005-2007 in which he notched 84 points in 126 games, Makway split time in the ECHL last year with Las Vegas and Cincinnati. The Trail, British Columbia native has posted at least 147 PIM in each of the first five seasons of his career, including a career-best 182 with the RiverKings in 2006-07.
Cooper scored four goals and four assists in 11 games with the RiverKings after starting the year with the Texas Brahmas. Cooper played for the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs each of the last two years, totaling 89 points in 93 games. The 28-year old Toronto native has 220 points in 288 career games.
Keserich was 3-1-1 for Mississippi with a 2.55 goals against average and.923 save percentage. A seventh round draft pick by the Colorado Avalanche in 2004, Keserich went 13-14-2 for the ECHL's Johnstown Chiefs last season with a 3.14 goals against average and a.902 save percentage. Keserich shared time with the RiverKings and Colorado Eagles in 2007-08 going 15-9-3.
All three players will arrive in Wichita on Wednesday and are expected to be in the lineup when Wichita hosts the Allen Americans on Thursday night. In exchange for the trio, Wichita sent defenseman Kevin Truelson and goaltender Tim Boron to Mississippi.
The Thunder also announced the makeup date for their postponed game at Tulsa from Christmas Day. The Thunder and Oilers have scheduled a game for Tuesday, February 2nd at the BOK Center. The Thunder resumes action tonight against the Rapid City Rush at the Kansas Coliseum at 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-GOAL.
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