With only one win in nine games, the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs had to do something to generate some offence and they did.
The Bulldogs completed a trade with the Vernon Vipers acquiring Trail native Craig Martin, 18, and future considerations, in exchange for up-and-coming 17-year-old defenceman Jared Wilson, who committed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute a week ago.
Martin played with the Beaver Valley Nitehawks of the KIJHL as a 16 year old and amassed 96 points in 50 games, before going to the Vipers last season. The Quinnipiac University commit racked up seven goals and nine assists in his first year, and in nine games this season has counted seven points, including five goals.
“It was a tough one, but you have to give up something good to get something good,” Vipers head coach and GM Jason Williamson told the Vernon Morningstar.
“They needed forwards and they asked for him.”
Alberni has been making deals to improve its struggling Island division team. In the past week the Bulldogs have signed Jakson Elynuik from the Camrose Kodiaks, talented forward Harlan Orr, 17, from Salmon Arm, and six-foot-three Michigan goaltender Tyger Howatt.
Wilson, meanwhile, was the BCHL’s leading rookie defenceman last year with 10 goals and 33 points, and should bolster the Vipers back end and be an asset on the powerplay that has floundered, going 5-for-41 in its opening nine games.
Vernon plays host to the 2014 RBC Cup in April.
Coincidentally, Martin and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs travel to Trail Friday, and will play the Smoke Eaters at 7:30 p.m. at the Cominco Arena.
Trail will then host the Merritt Centennials at the same time and same place Saturday.