WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Acquire NHL Drafted Player from Swift Current

Published on August 9, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland, Ore. - The Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club today announced the acquisition of Florida Panthers draft pick Josh Davies ('04) and forward Tyson Yaremko ('05) from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for defenseman Ryan McCleary ('03), a sixth-round draft pick in 2027 and four conditional picks.

The move completes the process to bring the Winterhawks roster back within the three-player limit on 20-year-olds, with forwards Gabe Klassen, Jack O'Brien and James Stefan holding those slots.

Through that process of trading three 2003-born skaters over the past eight months, the Winterhawks have cumulatively acquired Davies, Yaremko, three draft picks and the rights to U.S. prospect Colin Frank in exchange for Dawson Pasternak, Aidan Litke and Ryan McCleary.

Full trade details can be found below:

Portland receives:

F - Josh Davies ('04)

F - Tyson Yaremko ('05)

Swift Current receives:

D - Ryan McCleary ('03)

2027 6th-round pick

2024 conditional 4th-round pick

2025 conditional 6th-round pick

2027 conditional 2nd-round pick

2027 conditional 5th-round pick

"It's always difficult to move a player of Ryan's caliber, but we were fortunate enough to have four capable 20-year-olds this year," said Winterhawks General Manager & Head Coach Mike Johnston. "Ryan has improved significantly over three years with our club and has a great future ahead of him."

Davies, 19, recorded 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 points during the 2022-23 season, ranking fifth in goals and eighth in points among all Broncos skaters. Originally selected by Swift Current in the third round, #54 overall, of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft, Davies totaled 79 points in 149 games across four seasons. Following a standout 2021-22 campaign, the Airdrie, Alta. native was picked in the sixth round, #186 overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Florida Panthers - the same draft in which fellow Panthers draft pick and current Winterhawks defenseman Marek Alscher was selected.

Davies also competed with Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF U18 World Championships, recording one assist in three games, and made his American Hockey League (AHL) debut in April with the Charlotte Checkers.

Yaremko, 17, spent the 2022-23 season with the Saskatoon Blazers of the Saskatoon Male AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL), where he ranked second in team scoring with 63 points (21G, 42A) in 41 games. This spring, Yaremko and the Blazers captured the SMAAAHL championship in his second year with the club, then won their provincial and West Region tournaments to earn one of six berths in the U18 Men's Club Nationals. The Saskatoon, Sask. native starred on the national stage, ranking second on his team and seventh in the tournament with five goals and two helpers in seven games as the Blazers earned the bronze medal.

"We feel that both Davies and Yaremko will add substantial depth to our forward group and make us very competitive for the 2023-24 season," said Johnston.

McCleary, 20, posted a career-best 13 goals and 18 assists during the 2022-23 campaign, notching three game-winning goals as he nearly doubled his career scoring totals. The Swift Current, Sask. native spent three seasons in the Rose City and now returns to his hometown with 21 goals and 47 assists in 147 career games. Originally selected by Portland in the fifth round, #107 overall, of the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft, McCleary caught the attention of the NHL as a WHL rookie in the shortened 2020-21 season with seven points in 18 games before ultimately hearing his name called by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft.

The Winterhawks would like to thank Ryan for his contributions on and off the ice during his time in Portland and wish him the best of luck in Swift Current.

Davies and Yaremko are expected to arrive in Portland ahead of the team's 2023 Neely Cup Training Camp, which is set to begin Thursday, August 31.

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