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Malc
11-16-2009, 05:24 PM
The Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League have acquired "scoring forward" Geordie Wudrick (8 goals and 6 assists in 24 games) from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for import forward Stepan Novotny (14 goals and 11 assists in 23 games) and prospect Tanner Clark (currently playing in the SJHL).

Wudrick, 19, joins the Rockets after four seasons with the Swift Current Broncos. Last season the Abbotsford native scored 35 goals and added 22 assists for 57 points with the Broncos.

“We’re happy to be able to acquire a player like Geordie Wudrick,” said Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton. “He’s a high-end player that we think we will get back next year as an overage player as well. He’s a big guy and can score goals and we think he will help us.”

Wudrick, a 6-foot-3, 208 pound left winger, was a second overall WHL bantam draft pick by Swift Current in 2005.

http://www.kelownarockets.com/hockey/news-display.php?section_id=2&public_id=1318

trucker
11-17-2009, 09:12 AM
What kind of a player are we getting in Novotny? Sounds like he is big and can score. Is he a hard worker, does he play with passion?

Malc
11-17-2009, 03:02 PM
Novotny skates well with the puck, and often seems to be searching for a great pass - just never seems to deliver it.
He has a good shot, but doesn't use it often enough or accurately enough at times.
He avoids contact, and seems to drift in and out of games. If he could stay motivated, he'd be on the top line full time rather than watching from the bench.

trucker
11-17-2009, 07:44 PM
Thanks for the info. Sounds to me like he is just like Wudrick!! I guess the difference is he has alot more points. See you guys in December.

Malc
11-18-2009, 02:58 PM
By Warren Henderson - Kelownacapnews.com

Experience, size, speed and a skilled point man on the power play.

In Geordie Wudrick, the Kelowna Rockets believe they’ve added a versatile weapon to their attack.

“We’ve been interested in (Geordie) for a couple of years now, and we’re happy we were finally able to get him,” said Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton. “He’s a big guy who skates real well and he’s a guy who can help our power play out on the point. We hope he can have a good year for us and come back next year as an overage.”

http://www.kelownarockets.com/hockey/news-display.php?public_id=1327&section_id=3

"To get something good, you have to give up something good in return," said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska. "Stepan had a great start for us; he‘s a guy with a tremendous amount of skill, with his great breakaway speed and good shot, and Swift Current was very interested in him, and he‘ll be a big part of them moving forward.

"That‘s the tough part of hockey: You sometimes lose good players when you‘re trying to find pieces to help the team improve."

Specifically, Huska hopes Wudrick "will add to the power play and to the offence, but that he‘ll also be a guy who competes on the walls and helps get pucks out of the zone."