Canes deal Barlage and Wheatcroft at WHL trade deadline

By Dale Woodard on January 18, 2022.

On a Western Hockey League trade deadline that saw nine deals go down before the 3 p.m. deadline, the Lethbridge Hurricanes pulled the trigger on two of them.

It saw two forwards depart the Hurricanes and two more forwards and some prospects come in.

The Canes dealt overage forward Logan Barlage and a fourth-round draft pick in the 2022 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft to the Medcine Hat Tigers in exchange for fellow 2001-born forward Corson Hopwo.

Later in the day, the Canes sent third-year forward Chase Wheatcroft east to the Winnipeg Ice, acquiring 2004-born forward Brayden Edwards, a second-round draft pick in the 2025 and a fourth-round pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.

Hopwo, 20, was a seventh-round pick and 138th overall in the 2016 WHL Draft by the Tigers.

The Duncan, B.C. product has played in 25 games this season, posting eight goals and 16 points.

Hopwo, a left-handed shot, has 43 goals and 96 career points in 170 career games with Medicine Hat. He has played six career post-season games with one goal and one assist.

“We think adding Hopwo to our group will help us down the stretch,” said Hurricanes general manager Peter Anholt in a release.

“It’s a tough move to make but we like what Hopwo will bring to our lineup.”

Barlage, 20, who was the fourth overall selection in the 2016 WHL Draft by the Swift Current Broncos, was a key piece in the 2018 trade deadline blockbuster deal with the Broncos that saw Hurrianes forwards Giorgio Estephan and Tanner Nagel as well as goaltender Stuart Skinner going back the other way.

The product Humboldt had seven goals and 17 points in 31 games with the Hurricanes this season and has played 259 career regular season games, 217 as a Hurricane, over parts of five seasons.

In Barlage’s time in Lethbridge, he notched 56 goals and 147 points.

He also laced up in 23 post-season games with the Hurricanes collecting 11 points on seven goals and four assists.

“Logan has been a big part of our team for the last five years and has been a great player and person for our organization,” said Anholt. “We think a fresh start for Logan will be a great opportunity for him and we would like to thank him for all of his contributions over the years and wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

Edwards, 17, was a sixth-round draft pick -127th overall – in the 2019 WHL draft by the Ice.

The first- year forward from Abbotsford, B.C. has played in 11 games with Winnipeg, totaling three assists.

The six-foot-one, 175-pound forward had four goals and five points in five games last season with the Yale Hockey Academy while putting up 14 goals and 29 points in 36 games in 2019-2020.

“We really like Edwards and think he has some upside as a centre,” said Anholt. “We think he will fit in with our 2004 group while being able to add the draft picks is big for our organization.”

Hailing from Calgary, Wheatcroft, 19, was undrafted in the WHL and was signed by the Canes in 2018.

His father, Jim, played for the Hurricanes from 1987 to 1989.

Wheatcroft played in 22 games with the Hurricanes this season, posting four goals and 17 points.

He played in 104 career regular season games over three seasons, totalling 19 goals and 61 career points.

“Chase is a special person and has been a great Hurricane, which made this a tough trade,” added Anholt. “We’d like to thank Chase for his efforts over his time with the organization and wish him the best.”

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