Smokies Add Three

A big boost up front, and on the back end for the Smoke Eaters, as the club has brought three nineteen year-olds into the fold. Defenseman Marley Keca and forward Austin Adduono have both returned to the club after USHL tryouts in Indiana and Fargo, respectively.

Keca is entering his second season in Trail after scoring 19 points in 39 games last year, while Adduono, a former SIJHL Rookie of the Year, was signed during the summer after putting up 13 goals last season with Wichita Falls and Dawson Creek of the NAHL.

Trail has also traded for defenseman Braden Pears from the Coquitlam Express. The Victoria native brings plenty of BCHL experience to the table, notably two appearances in the Fred Page Cup finals with Powell River in 2010 and 2011.

The full release from the team is available here.

Both Adduono and Pears were at practice at Cominco Arena this afternoon in another high-tempo on-ice session. Both are skilled, proficient skaters, and along with Keca will be relied on as leaders with this group. (Keca, by the way, is meeting the team tomorrow in West Kelowna). Adduono is a shifty forward who will be given every opportunity to score goals in all situations, while Pears has so far shown considerable offensive potential in addition to being steady in his own zone. Keca is a reliable top-4 defenseman as well with a physical edge, something Trail's back end will certainly benefit from.

All three new acquisitions should play tomorrow against the Warriors, I'll have a full preview here tomorrow morning before we hit the road.

With the new additions, the Smokies have had to complete a pair of other transactions. Defenseman Wayland Williams was released yesterday and is expected to join Corpus Christi of the NAHL, while fellow blueliner Matt Alexander was shipped to the MJHL's Portage Terriers for futures. I wish both the best of luck as their respective hockey journeys continue.