MOOSE JAW -- The Western Hockey League trade deadline on Thursday wasn’t quite as busy as it has been in past years, with Saskatchewan teams making a handful of deals prior to rosters being set for the remainder of the campaign.
Here’s a quick look at how things shook out over the last two days prior to the deadline arriving at 7 p.m. Saskatchewan time on Thursday.
WEDNESDAY
-- The Saskatoon Blades traded team leading scorer and 19-year-old forward Ben Riche (37 games played, 23 goals, 31 assists, 54 points) to the Prince George Cougars for 18-year-old forward and Calgary Flames prospect Hunter Laing (36gp 10-12-22) and 15-year-old defenceman Luke Dumas, who currently plays for Lloydminster-based Titans Union Hockey in the Junior Prospects Hockey League.
Saskatoon also received Prince George’s sixth-round pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft and a fifth-round selection in 2028
-- The Regina Pats brought home Regina product Taylor Tabashniuk, 17, from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for a 2006 seventh-round pick. Tabashniuk is currently playing for the Regina Pat Canadians in the Sask Male AAA Hockey League.
-- Regina then traded goaltender Cruz Chase, 17, to the Medicine Hat Tigers in exchange for the Pats eighth round pick in 2028. Chase currently plays for the Calgary Canucks in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
THURSDAY
-- The Prince Albert Raiders traded 17-year-old defenceman Ryan Gower to the Edmonton Oil Kings in exchange for the Raiders’ sixth round pick in 2028. Gower is currently playing for the Neepawa Titans in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League
-- The Moose Jaw Warriors traded overage forward and key cog in their WHL Championship run Brayden Schuurman to the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for Cooper Ernewein, 16, a third round pick in 2028 and first-round pick in 2025. Ernewein is currently playing for the Saskatoon Blazers in the SMAAAHL.
-- The biggest deal of the day saw a three-way trade where the Warriors acquired overage defenceman and former Prince Albert captain Eric Johnston (37 gp 4-13-17) from the Swift Current Broncos as well as the Red Deer Rebels’ fourth round pick in 2027 and seventh round pick in 2026. Swift Current received overage defenceman Hunter Mayo (33 gp 11-11-22) and 18-year-old forward Trae Wilke (38 gp 8-11-19) from Red Deer. The Rebels received overage defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk (18 gp 1-3-4) from Moose Jaw, 17-year-old forward Ty Coupland (35 gp 9-12-21) from Swift Current and the Broncos’ fourth round pick in 2025.
-- Regina had the final trade of the season when they sent 19-year-old forward Zachary Shantz (37 gp 9-16-25) to the Everett Silvertips in exchange for the rights to Shea Rollason, 18, and a second round draft pick in 2027. Rollason is currently playing for the Winnipeg Bruins in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League.
For a look at all the trade deadline deals, be sure to check out www.chl.ca/whl.
