(Prince Albert Raiders)

By Nigel Maxwell with files from Trevor Redden

Trade

Raiders acquire winger from Giants

Sep 24, 2019 | 3:20 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders have added some fire power to their offence, following a trade with Vancouver.

The Raiders have acquired 1999-born winger Brayden Watts from the Giants in exchange for a future WHL Bantam Draft pick.

Watts, a Bakersfield, California product, was originally drafted by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. He was traded to the Giants at the 2017 WHL Trade Deadline.

Last season with the Giants, Watts finished the year with 12 goals and 26 assists in 57 games. He added seven goals and three assists in 22 games during the 2019 WHL playoffs, including two goals and an assist in the 2019 Rogers WHL Championship Series.

“Brayden’s a tremendous skater, and in his case maybe a guy that’s been underutilized a bit. He can get in on the forecheck, he was an assistant captain and obviously [somebody] we got to know real well in last year’s championship series in a leadership role,” General Manager Curtis Hunt said.

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

13h ago

National

Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds

17h ago

Budget woes

Golf and curling centre faces grim season without financial boost

20h ago

“He’s a guy that can come in and play in a lot of different situations for us, he’s got some versatility, and again I think he just adds to our leadership group.”

Watts joins returning defencemen Max Martin and Jeremy Masella as the three overage players currently with the club. 20-year-old defenceman Zack Hayes is still listed on the roster, but he remains in camp with the Anaheim Ducks.

“As much as I’d love to see Zack roll into town today, the reality is he’s in Anaheim right now. We did speak to the Ducks, he’s practicing with the big club, and he’s still responsible for his fate there,” Hunt said, adding that he will deal with any potential situations as they come with regard to the three allotted overage spots on the team.

Fellow 20-year-olds Parker Kelly, Brett Leason, Brayden Pachal, Sergei Sapego, and Ian Scott have all inked professional contracts and are not expected to return to the Raiders this year.

—

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow