The Lethbridge Hurricanes have acquired Blake Swetlikoff from the Spokane Chiefs. (File photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

Hurricanes trade for forward Blake Swetlikoff

Jan 6, 2023 | 7:17 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Following the reassignment of forward Zach Bansley on Thursday, the Lethbridge Hurricanes have announced the acquisition of a new forward.

READ MORE: Hurricanes reassign Bansley to Melville Millionaires

The Lethbridge club has acquired 2003-born forward Blake Swetlikoff from the Spokane Chiefs. In exchange, the Chiefs are getting a second-round draft pick in 2026, a fifth-round pick in 2025 and the playing rights to 2006-born forward Jack Lackas.

The 19-year-old Swetlikoff was drafted by Spokane 61^st overall in the third round of the 2018 Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft. He skated in 34 games this season, racking up 19 points (five goals, 14 assists), along with 10 penalty minutes.

In 128 career games over parts of four seasons with the Chiefs, the Regina product has collected 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists) and 60 penalty minutes. During the 2021-2022 season, he scored a career-high 11 goals and 29 points.

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General manager for the Hurricanes, Peter Anholt said the team is “really excited” to add the forward to the Lethbridge roster. Anholt stated, “We feel that he will help our top-nine. It was a steep price for us to pay but our team deserved to be added to with the way we’ve played this season.”

The six-foot, 185-pound forward can play both the centre and wing positions and has served as an alternate captain for Spokane this season. He played minor hockey with the Regina Pat Canadians, where he scored 22 goals and had 38 assists, along with 26 penalty minutes, in 62 games over two years.

Swetlikoff is anticipated to suit up for the Hurricanes when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings at the ENMAX Centre on Saturday, January 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, Jack Lackas’ playing rights have been sent to the Chiefs. The unsigned player was originally drafted by the Hurricanes 2^nd overall in the first round of the 2021 WHL US Prospects Draft. He played in seven games with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 16U AAA team, where he scored two goals and had six assists, with 15 penalty minutes.

Read more local sports at Lethbridge News Now.