Hengen Selected by Oil Kings in Expansion Draft

[GBG BLEED BLUE]

PRess Release from Warriors Website:
http://www.mjwarriors.ca/feature_story.php?f_action=news_detail&news_id=503



Warriors Loose #22 Michael Hengen in Edmonton Oil Kings Expansion Draft

The Western Hockey League held an expansion draft today for the newest member club, the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Oil Kings selected 20 year old Defenseman Michael Hengen of the Moose Jaw Warriors. Hengen joined the Warriors on the WHL trade deadline this past 2006-07 regular season from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for a 5th round pick in this past 2007 WHL bantam draft. The 6’1, 190lb native of Surrey, BC has accumulated a total of 16 goals and 46 assists for 62 points in his WHL career. Hengen added veteran leadership on the young Warriors blueline last season and the Warriors wish him the best in his junior hockey career as a member of the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Name: Michael Hengen
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Height: 6’1
Weight: 190lbs
Birthdate: 1987-11-27
Hometown: Surrey, BC


Regular Season Stats
Season Team GP G A PTS +/- PIM
2003-2004 WHL Season Swift Current Broncos 35 3 3 6 4 24
2004-05 WHL Season Swift Current Broncos 66 1 8 9 -20 76
2005-06 WHL Season Swift Current Broncos 39 4 9 13 -12 63
2005-06 WHL Season Saskatoon Blades 12 0 1 1 -2 6
2006-07 WHL Season Calgary Hitmen 41 5 15 20 0 54
2006-07 WHL Season Moose Jaw Warriors 24 3 10 13 10 12



For further information please contact:
Chad Lang
General Manager
Moose Jaw Warriors Hockey Club
694-5711 ext. 25

He has now been selected in 2 Expansion drafts and gone through a number of teams,but hopefully he can stay with the Oil Kings.

[Warrior Fan]

I wasn't so sure he was going to hold on to a 20 year old spot on this team anyway. It was horrible trade getting Frere and then worse getting Hengen. The Warriors walked away from this smelling like a rose.

[wardog fan]

never liked him , and your right he would not make the warrios as a 20 year old... we still need to make a deal for vet dman though....

[nivek_wahs]

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=35166&sc=9


Warriors lose Hengen to Oil Kings

MATTHEW GOURLIE
The Moose Jaw Times Herald

Michael Hengen’s Moose Jaw Warriors career has lasted a scant 24 games.
The 20-year-old defenceman was selected by the Edmonton Oil Kings in Tuesday’s WHL expansion draft.
“We felt we had a core group we had to keep together, but we knew we were going to lose someone with value,” said Warriors general manager Chad Lang.
“There’s no doubt that we like our youth on the back end.”
Hengen scored three goals and 10 assists in his two-dozen game stint with the Tribe while posting a strong plus-10 rating on the Warriors’ blue line down the stretch.
The six-foot-one, 190-pounder from Surrey, B.C. was acquired from the Calgary Hitmen at the WHL trade deadline. The Warriors sent a fifth round 2007 WHL Bantam pick to Calgary that they had acquired earlier in the day from Seattle in exchange for Andre Herman.
The Oil Kings will be Hengen’s fifth WHL club as he enters his fifth season in the league.
Hengen is one of three 20-year-old defencemen the Oil Kings picked up. They also added Brett Stamler (Seattle) and Mathew Swaby (Tri-City). The Oil Kings also selected former Warrior Karey Pieper from Red Deer.
The move simplifies the Warriors’ 20-year-old situation heading into next season. The Warriors have forward Keith Voytechek back as a 20-year-old and will only keep one of their two 20-year-old goalies Kurt Jory or Joey Perricone. If Slovak defenceman Martin Grundling doesn’t return, that would open up a 20-year-old spot.
“It could give us an opportunity to consider an 18- or 19-year-old defenceman in the Euro draft who could anchor our power play,” said Lang. “We had a lot of young depth we wanted to protect.”
The Warriors will bring back a quartet of 17- and 18-year-old defencemen in Travis Hamonic, Ryan Stanton, Chad Suer and Travis Ehrhardt. They also have 19-year-old Jock Sutter and 16-year-old Kevin Smith coming back. Smith played four games last season and will be pushing for a regular spot out of camp.
Lang also noted that 16-year-old defencemen Clinton Atkinson and Paul Bonar will be pushing for a roster spot in camp.
“A lot depends on what happens out of camp, but I think that sets us up in a good position,” said Lang.
“We have an opportunity to have a 20-year-old spot open and if you look around the league there should be some quality 20-year-olds available if we need to add one on our back end.”
That necessity may depend on Grundling.
“He really enjoyed Moose Jaw and the community and if he wasn’t in the right situation at the pro level he might consider coming back in a leadership role,” said Lang. “That’s an area of the game he takes a lot of pride in.”
The European Draft is June 27 and because Grundling is 20, the Warriors can select two Europeans even if Grundling’s future is still uncertain. They have to declare their two Europeans before the first game of the regular season.
There are fees that go along with the Euro draft and that would be a deterrent to using both picks if it appears Grundling would be coming back.