Chiefs acquire Wishnowski from Rockets
The Spokane Chiefs added a veteran presence to their forward group late Monday afternoon, acquiring 19-year-old forward Tanner Wishnowski from the Kelowna Rockets in exchange for 16-year-old prospect forward Colum McGauley.
“We are looking forward to bringing an experienced player like Tanner into our forward group,” said Scott Carter, general manager of the Chiefs, in a team release. “He comes from a good program and plays the way we like to play.”
Wishnowski, a 6-foot, 186-pound winger from Oakbank, Man., scored seven goals and added six assists in 54 games during his rookie WHL season last year. He suited up in 18 playoff games for the Rockets, recording three assists and 11 penalty minutes. Wishnowski has a goal and an assist in 10 games to begin the 2016-17 campaign. He was listed by the Rockets in 2013.
“We have some extra forwards right now and we felt this was a good move for our hockey club, to be able to acquire a high-end player that we think will be very good fit for our team,” said Bruce Hamilton, president and general manager of the Rockets, in a team release. “We’d like to thank Tanner for his efforts with our organization and wish him well with Spokane.”
McGauley, a native of Nelson, B.C., was the Chiefs’ fourth round pick (75th) in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. Last season, he scored three goals and 15 assists with the Notre Dame Hounds Midget AAA team of the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League. He is currently playing with the Nelson Leafs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (Junior B).
Wishnowski is expected to wear sweater No. 19 for the Chiefs, who return to action Tuesday when they host the Everett Silvertips.
