Brandon, MB – The Brandon Wheat Kings have made a pair of trades ahead of the 2021 WHL Overage Deadline.
Defenseman Neithan Salame has been traded to the Victoria Royals, in exchange for a 2022 5th round Bantam Draft pick and a 2023 6th round Bantam Draft pick.
Salame, a former 7th round pick of the Wheat Kings in the WHL Bantam Draft has played 150 games in the black and gold, scoring seven times and adding 25 assists for 32 points.
“Today is a tough day, the limit of three 20 year-olds is one of the cruelest rules in the book in my opinion,” said General Manager Doug Gasper. “We had to part with a young man who’s been a part of this program for years. Neithan has been a positive example in the community, our dressing room and he exemplified everything a Wheat King should be. We want to thank “Sal” for everything he has done for us and wish him all the best in Victoria.”
The Wheat Kings have also acquired overage forward Eric Pearce from the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for their 6th round Bantam Draft pick in 2023.
A WHL Champion with the 2019 Raiders, Pearce comes to the Wheat Kings with 197 games of WHL experience. The Regina, SK native is coming off a career-high 16 points during the Subway Cup Hub season in spring.
“Eric adds a veteran WHL forward to our lineup,” added Gasper. “He plays a hard 200 foot responsible game. We like the compete he brings to the club and feel this move helps solidify our forward group right now.”
Today’s moves leaves the Wheat Kings in a unique sitation with four overage players on the roster. WHL rules allow teams to carry four, if one of those players is injured.
“Marcus Kallionkieli is dealing with a nagging injury,” added Gasper. “We don’t want to rush him back and create a long term problem for him.”
Once Kallionkieli returns to the lineup, the Wheat Kings will then have seven days to reduce their overage number to three.
The Wheat Kings return to play on Saturday night when the Swift Current Broncos come to town for the first time this season. Join us for Willie’s 30th Birthday!! $10 children tickets, bouncy castles, mascot parade and more! Tickets are on-sale now at the Keystone Centre Box Office or online at https://keystonecentre.com/
(Wheat King Release)
