Hurricanes swing deal with Ice

Hurricanes roster to the league-maximum three 20year-olds with forward Giorgio Estephan and defencemen Brennan Menell and Brennan Riddle.

Estephan returned from the Minnesota Wild’s rookie camp last week, while Menell is at Minnesota’s main camp.

Riddle skated with the Hurricanes at practice last week, but is still on the mend from wrist surgery late last month.

The return of Estephan and the eventual return of the two blueliners put Baer — acquired by the Hurricanes at last season’s WHL trade deadline — on the outside in the 20-yearold situation.

“We decided we were going to keep Riddle and we’re pretty sure Menell is going to be back,” said Hurricanes general manager Peter Anholt. “We feel that Elmer is a good skater and a little bit bigger and he can fit in different roles for us, plus we get the fifth round pick, which is something that we needed because we made so many trades last year with draft picks that we were a little short.”

Elmer, 19, was originally drafted by the Regina Pats in the sixth round and 116th overall in the 2013 WHL bantam draft.

The six-foot-one, 175-pound forward played in 46 games last season with the Ice, scoring seven goals and 16 points. Hailing from Calgary, Elmer has played 66 career games with the Ice and Pats.

He also had one goal with the Ice in five exhibition games this season.

With the trade, the Hurricanes now have 26 players on the roster, including 16 forwards, eight defenceman and two goaltenders.

Meanwhile, Riddle — acquired by the Hurricanes last October from the Prince Albert Raiders — continues to get back into game shape after his off-season surgery.

“He’s a ways away yet,” said Anholt of the six-foot-two, 197 pound defenceman from Balgonie, Sask. who turned 20 at the end of July. “He’s skating well. Body-wise he’s in good shape. He had a wrist injury and operation and just has to get it stronger. So it’s just a matter of time before it’s fine. He just has to get stronger so he can shoot well.”

Hurricanes forward Ryan Bowen continues to rehab his shoulder after off-season surgery.

Anholt said Bowen, who arrived in Lethbridge last November from the Moose Jaw Warriors as part of the Brayden Burke deal, is in town and working toward a possible return in November.

“But he’s here so we can start working with him. He’s been doing all his workouts at home and rehabbing at home, but now he’s back here.”

Elections with the new Hurricanes board were held Monday night.

The results were as follows: Doug Paisley (president), Roger Simpson (vice president), Tyler Brack (secretary) and Darren Stocker (finance chair).

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