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Adam Helewka was scheduled to be back in the Spokane Chiefs' lineup on Jan. 2 after serving a six-game suspension for making a bloody mess out of parts of Parker Wotherspoon's forehead.
Instead, the Chiefs' left winger will suit up with the Red Deer Rebels for the remainder of the season.
The team announced today that Helewka has been traded to the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for forwards Wyatt Johnson and Eli Zummack, as well as Red Deer's second round Bantam Draft pick in 2016, and the Rebels' fifth round pick in 2017.
Zummack is 15 years old and was Red Deer's second round pick in 2015. Johnson was Red Deer's captain and is a 20-year-old. He has 26 points in 38 games (9G, 17A).
He also fought the Chiefs' Ethan McIndoe earlier this season in a solid tilt:
There's a lot to unfold here:
Helewka has been a newsmaker all season after starting the season with the AHL's San Jose Barracuda before being sent back to Spokane. In 19 games, the 20-year-old put up 29 points and helped jumpstart the team.
Red Deer is hosting this year's Memorial Cup so it is loading up as all hosts should do. Last week the Rebels acquired Jake DeBrusk from the Swift Current Broncos. DeBrusk was the 14th overall pick in this past June's NHL Draft.
The Chiefs have a lot of young studs on the team and in the system, with Kailer Yamamoto leading the way. Jaret Anderson-Dolan and McIndoe are rookies on this year's team and are expected to play larger roles as they grow older. The prospects in the system include Ty Smith, last year's first overall pick in the WHL Bantam Draft. The Chiefs also selected Koby Morrisseau ninth overall in last year's Bantam Draft.
It's obvious this trade is looking at building toward the future. Helewka goes to an Eastern Conference team, and Spokane gets a former captain in return, plus a young prospect and future draft picks.