Franklin dealt to Kamloops

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have traded forward, and assistant captain, Zane Franklin to the Kamloops Blazers in exchange for forward Jackson Shepard.

The Blazers also get a fourth-round draft pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft.

Shepard, 18, was drafted 23rd overall by the Blazers in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. The native of West Vancouver, B.C., had 22 points in 72 games with the Blazers in 2017-18.

“Shepard is a player that is a heart-and-soul type guy,” said Peter Anholt, Hurricanes general manager, in a news release. “He can really skate and is a quality player that will fit into our lineup nicely. He’s somebody that will fit into our top-nine forwards and will give us lots of depth in the future.”

Shepard has represented Canada at both the Under-17 and Under-18 level. He skated in six games at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He also won a gold medal at the 2017 Hlinka Gretzky Cup alongside ’Canes head coach Brent Kisio and defenceman Calen Addison.

Franklin, 19, was drafted 43rd overall by the Hurricanes in the 2014 Bantam Draft. He had 54 points in 137 career games, with another six points in 15 post-season games.

“We really want to wish Franky the best moving forward,” said Anholt. “He was a big part of the change here in Lethbridge and we appreciate what he did for the Hurricanes.”

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