The Western Capitals acquire veteran forwards.
Meisenheimer, MacPherson dealt to Pictou County
The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals made a major trade in the Maritime Junior Hockey League on Wednesday night.
The Eastlink North Divisionleading Capitals, who took a 235-0 record into Thursday night’s home game against the St. Stephen Aces, dealt forwards Sam Meisenheimer and Calum MacPherson, along with third-round draft picks in 2019 and 2020 and cash, to the Pictou County Crushers. In exchange, the Caps received 20-year-old forwards Dylan Riley and Jacob Hickey, a seventhround pick in 2019 and an eighthround pick in 2020.
“We have been talking to Pictou for quite a while now on one player (Riley),” said Caps general manager Pat McIver. “We thought we were close on one player, and (Wednesday morning) we discussed getting two players and we were able to work out a deal.
“We gave up a lot, and that’s the tough part of the business. But, we feel, getting two of Pictou’s top players, we definitely improved our hockey team.” Crushers general manager Chad McDavid told The News in New Glasgow, N.S., that MacPherson “was the key piece for us in the deal.” The 18-year-old centre is in his first year of junior eligibility.
Statistics
Riley notched 33 points in 29 regular-season games this year — his third year with the Crushers. He had 44 points in 49 games while being named the MHL’s 2016-17 rookie of the year, and last season registered 52 points in 51 contests.
Hickey is in his fourth season in the MHL. He had 19 points in 26 games in 2015-16; 39 points in 45 games in 2016-17, and 51 points in 50 games in 2017-18. This year, he has 27 points — 12 goals and 15 assists — in 25 games.
“They are career junior A guys,” said McIver in describing the Caps’ new acquisitions. “They had a bit of a slow start to the season, which probably coincided with their team’s (early) struggles. “Both of them really heated up within the last six weeks, and it transpired into some good results for Pictou. They are probably two of their top three players for sure. Jacob was the captain, they both wore letters and both average over a point per game.” Meisenheimer joined the Capitals after starting the season with Mississauga of the Ontario Hockey League. He played the previous two seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Meisenheimer had 27 points, including nine goals, in 23 games. MacPherson, a third-round pick of the Capitals in 2017, has one goal and 14 assists for 15 points in 27 games in his rookie season.
“Pictou is still trying to make the playoffs, and to get good quality you have to give up good quality,” said McIver. “We felt we could do that to get both Riley and Hickey. We are pretty excited about the trade.”
The Crushers (11-13-5) were two points behind the fourthplace South Shore Lumberjacks (13-11-3) in the race for the final playoff berth in the Eastlink South Division entering Thursday’s action.