For his fifth year in the Western Hockey League (WHL), Squamish's Dalton Thrower might be playing a lot closer to home.
During an exit interview with Saskatoon Blades management on Friday (May 24), the 麻豆社国产Minor Hockey Association product found out that he was being shipped to the Vancouver Giants.
Heading the other way is a conditional second round WHL bantam pick that the Blades will receive only if Thrower returns to the WHL as an overage player next year.
Thrower, a 2012 second round pick of the Montreal Canadiens, is eligible to play professionally next season.
The news of the trade comes days after a disappointing showing at the Memorial Cup for Thrower and the Blades.
He played in all three Memorial Cup round robin games for the team but just over seven minutes into the Blades game against the Portland Winterhawks on May 22, Thrower lined up Portland player Taylor Leier and drilled him with a high hit.
Although no penalty was assessed on the play, the hit was later reviewed and the National Hockey League Operations Department, which is overseeing player discipline for the tournament, determined it deemed a suspension.
As a result, Thrower was suspended for the remainder of the Memorial Cup.
Leier landed face-first on the ice after the hit and remained down for several minutes before needing assistance to get off the ice. Leier was unable to return to action for Portland for the remainder of the tournament following the incident.
The Blades returned to action without Thrower on May 23 against the London Knights and lost 6-1. The setback eliminated Saskatoon from the tournament.
For more details on the event, visit www.mastercardmemorialcup.ca.
