Goaltender Nolan Maier (pictured) will start his 20-year-old season as a Saskatoon Blade.
The Bridge City Bunch sent 19-year-old Koen MacInnes to Everett Thursday afternoon for 19-year-old forward Brendan Lee. MacInnes was Maier’s back-up the past two seasons with the Bridge City Bunch, posting a career record of 18-7-2, with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. The Burnaby, B-C product had three shutouts in his 31 appearances. A Seattle product, Lee is entering his third W-H-L season with 19 career points, including 11 goals, in 71 regular season games with the Silvertips. Following is the news release from the Blades…..
Blades acquire 2002-born forward Brendan Lee from Everett Silvertips
SASKATOON, SK — The Saskatoon Blades have struck a deal with the Everett Silvertips to acquire 2002-born forward Brendan Lee in exchange for 2002-born goaltender Koen MacInnes.
Lee, born and raised in Seattle, WA, appeared in 17 games for the division-leading ‘Tips last season, collecting two goals and four assists for six points, and tacking on 11 penalty minutes. The 5-foot-11, 194-pound left-winger is entering his third season in the WHL with 19 career points (11G-8A) over 71 contests. Lee also brings 34 penalty minutes and a career +/- rating of +5 to Saskatoon.
“Brendan is a skilled, experienced winger who has an outstanding shot, and we think there’s some real untapped offensive upside to his game,” explained Blades general manager Colin Priestner. “He had 9 goals as a 17 year old player and we think he can certainly exceed that in his nineteen year old year.”
Having gone undrafted into the Western Hockey League, Lee was signed by the Silvertips after he spent two years skating with the Colorado Thunderbirds U16 and U18 development programs. In the 2018-19 campaign, the Seattle product piled up a sterling 62 points (28G-34A) in 46 games in the U16 AAA ranks.
MacInnes departs Saskatoon after dressing predominantly as the back-up netminder for the last two campaigns, appearing in 31 career contests and donning an 18-7-2-0 record. The Burnaby, BC product heads state-side with a career 0.901 save percentage and 2.78 goals-against average with three shutouts, all of which in his freshman campaign.
“First off we’d like to thank Koen and his family for his time with the Blades both on the ice and as a leader in our community,” said Priestner. “Ultimately, Koen was caught in a numbers game here with Maier who’s on the verge of breaking the all-time WHL wins record this season, and then we have with two highly touted 2004-born goalies in Chadwick and Elliott fighting for a spot in the lineup as well. So we’re happy we were able to find Koen a new team closer to his home where he can contend for a starters position.”
The Saskatoon Blades Hockey Club would like to thank Koen for his commitment to the organization over the last two seasons, and wish him well in Everett. Meantime, the Club would like to welcome Brendan and his family to Saskatoon and look forward to continuing his development under Brendan Sonne’s coaching staff.
