Tilburg Trappers newsflash

Again the Trappers made quite some moves this month. An overview:

The Trappers managed to sign 4 brand new prospects that can be added to their long list. Forwards Michael Ryder and Peter Sarno, defenceman Ryan Vanbuskirk and goalie Jamie Hodson joined the only UHL organization in the Netherlands.

Trappers coach Lemaire:" Our scouting system is continually looking for players that can be providing good things for our organization and again this time they did impress me. All the 4 players were property of the Great Whites, but our scouts found out they weren't signed properly to a pro-contract and therefor where basically Unrestricted Free Agents. Since we believe in them we could offer them and their agent solid 2-way contracts with a good forecast of playing in the UHL soon."

Lemaire also told us his views on the new acquired players: 

" In Peter Sarno we get a potential Craig Janney type of center. He could turn out to be occupying our 2nd or 3rd line. If he continues making the progress he's making at the moment I'll see him break the UHL in a few seasons.

Michael Ryder provides us quality at our weak left wing position. However Ryder can paly at all forward positions if needed, expect him to arrive along with Sarno on the same line which could be either #2nd or #3rd.

Ryan Vanbuskirk is another defenceman in the already long list of defencemen in our roganization. And althoguh he isn't labelled as a big prospect we feel he does provide something our other prospects lack. He is very physical and will soon be ready to make the jump to the pro team. Maybe not as a top 4 defenseman but anythign from there is possible in the near future.

With Jamie Hodson we get a goalie who possesses good size (6-2/200), plays his angles well and is said to have a very quick glove hand. We lacked a potential #1 future netminder. We feel that with Jamie here we now have one in our organization.

In another deal the Trappers dealt away defenceman Karl Dykhuis to CSKA in return for their 4th rnd draft pick. "Dykhuis, after holding out for several time, never was the same when he returned. I don't want to put blame to Karl only, but the chemistry was over since then. He did gave 100% effort day in-day out though, something some other players could take an example of. With the plethora of defencemen in our organization we felt we could deal 
Dykhuis away and acquire a draft pick to pick up some undiscovered talent." 

The Trappers also dealt away Peter Ratchuk and Vladimir Vorobiev to the Mounties for a 3rd rnd draft pick." This is a deal that has made me very happy. A 3rd rnd pick will be very valuable next season and we didn't have to give up anything that could hurt us really. Vorobiev has had many seasons to prove he's not a minor leaguer. Although he excelled in the GHa last season he was unable to perform at UHL level in trainings camp. Peter Ratchuk demanded a trade after he saw his destined role as #1 offensive d-man prospect decrease to #3. With the acquisitions of Poti and Markov and L.Jonsson Rathcuk became expandable. I can understand he was frustrated at us not getting a chance himself first, but we felt Peter's development was taking a step back and he didn't make any relevant progress the way we want an offensive defenceman to make. That's why it was better for the both of us he was dealt. We wish him all the luck to break into the UHL with the Mounties." 

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