Cristall, Riche change teams in WHL
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/01/2025 (252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Two of the top offensive players in the Western Hockey League changed teams on Wednesday, one day before this evening’s trade deadline.
The Spokane Chiefs emerged as a surprise buyer of 19-year-old forward Andrew Cristall from the Kelowna Rockets. The Chiefs, who haven’t been aggressive on the trade front this season, sent 17-year-old forward Hayden Paupanekis of Winnipeg, a first-round pick in 2025, a third-round pick in 2025, a first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2026 and a sixth-round pick to the Rockets.
Kelowna is divesting top players as it builds up to host the 2026 Memorial Cup. Cristall, a prospect of the Washington Capitals, is second in the league in scoring with 60 points, which came from 26 goals and 34 assists in just 28 games.
The Rockets dealt 19-year-old defenceman Caden Price to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Tuesday, and 19-year-old Czech defenceman Marek Rocak to the Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday.
In a smaller deal, the Rockets sent 18-year-old Landon Cowper of Whitehorse, Yukon to the Everett Silvertips for a seventh-round pick in 2026.
The other major shoe to drop came when the Saskatoon Blades sent 19-year-old forward Ben Riche of Bethune, Sask., to the Prince George Cougars for 18-year-old forward Hunter Laing of Kelowna, the rights to 15-year-old defenceman Luke Dumas of Beaverlodge, Alta., a first-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-round pick in 2028.
Riche is having a career season, with 23 goals and 31 assists in 37 games. He will be joining his fourth WHL team.
Saskatoon sits in a tie for the lead in the Eastern Conference, but after two seasons of making blockbuster deals, is attempting to regain some of the picks it has traded.
The Blades have also dealt defenceman Tanner Molendyk and forward Brandon Lisowsky and have now recouped two first-round picks and three second rounders.
In a minor deal on Wednesday, the Red Deer Rebels sent 17-year-old goaltender Taylor Tabashniuk to his hometown Regina Pats for a seventh-round pick in 2026. The young netminder made a pair of emergency starts for Red Deer in the playoffs last spring, but has spent this season with the under-18 AAA Regina Pat Canadians.
In another goaltending prospect deal, Regina sent 17-year-old-born goaltender Cruz Chase of Airdrie, Alta., to the Medicine Hat Tigers for an eighth-round pick in 2028. He is currently playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
The deadline hits this evening at 7 o’clock.
» The Brandon Sun