Warriors receive 3 players for future consideration deals made last season

The West Kelowna Warriors have acquired three players as future consideration agreements from trades last season have finally been fulfilled.

On Jan. 10, the team sent Austin Chorney to the Cowichan Valley Capitals in exchange for Maxime Dumas and future considerations, which is now Zach Brooks.

The 18-year-old power forward had 13 goals and 17 assists in 60 games with the Capitals last year and will bring some “much-needed size and speed” to the Warriors lineup, head coach Simon Ferguson says.

The Quebec native was quite complimentary of West Kelowna and the fans from playing here as a visitor last season.

Earlier in the year, the Warriors traded forward Brandon Dent to the Nanaimo Clippers for future considerations, which has now been revealed as 19-year-old goalie Zach Bennett.

From Winnipeg, Bennett was stellar in the crease for the Clippers last year, posting a .927 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average in 17 games.

Ferguson expressed excitement about bringing Bennett in to join Johnny Derrick in what has “the potential to (be) the best goalie duo in the league.”

Bennett was certainly excited about the new opportunity as well.

I think this is a great opportunity for me heading into my final year of junior hockey,” he said. “West Kelowna looks like a beautiful place to live. I look forward to exploring the city in my spare time.”

While Brooks and Bennett will likely suit up for the Warriors next year, the final future consideration acquired has already committed to Queens University.

However, Adam Trotman, who comes to West Kelowna from the Coquitlam Express as part of a Jan. 9 deal that sent Wyatt Head to the Lower Mainland, can still choose to stay in junior hockey if he’d like.

“This is a strong, veteran trio. They are high-character individuals who will certainly bring leadership and compete to the group,” said Chris Laurie, Warriors president.

“We are pleased with how our roster is shaping up. There’s been a lot of hard work behind the scenes by ownership, staff and players.”