The Express completed 3 trades leading up to last Saturday's trading deadline.
The biggest one of them all came Thursday when the Express shipped veteran defencemen Mike Leidl and Cam Brodie to the Vernon Vipers in exchange for forward John Digness and future considerations.
Leidl came to the Express in an offseason trade that saw Lee Baldwin head to the Victoria Grizzlies. Leidl was named Burnaby's captain at the start of the season.
With the Express, Leidl put up 1 goal and 15 assists in 38 games.
Cam Brodie came to the Express in a mid-season trade while Jordan Soquila, Alex Valenti and Steve Ceccanese were sent to the Merritt Centennials.
While with the Express, Brodie was named to represent the Express at the upcoming BCHL All Star game.
Brodie played 24 games with the Express putting up 3 goals and 11 points.
Coming to Burnaby is 19 year old forward John Digness. This season in Vernon, Digness scored 7 goals and 19 points.
Digness stands at 5'10 and 170lbs.
It didn't take long for Digness to make an impact with the Express scoring 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points in this past weekend's 3 game road trip. He's expected to be an impact player for the remainder of this season and next year with Burnaby.
Thursday the Express also sent forward Brent Vandenberg to the Interior conference leaders the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Vandenberg was acquired by the Express along with future considerations in exchange for Brodie Reid in a late November trade.
Vandenberg was a point per game player while in Burnaby. He scored 5 goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 15 games.
The final trade the Express completed saw 20 year old forward Max Grassi sent to the Merritt Centennials for the rights to 18 year old defenceman Andrew Glasser. Merritt then sent Grassi to the Penticton Vees in exchange for future considerations
Grassi was in his second tour of duty with the Express after being acquired from the Surrey Eagles in the off-season. He was a member of the Express 2006 Royal Bank Cup championshp squad. This season Grassi scored 19 goals and 20 assists for 39 points in 35 games. He was leading the team in scoring at the time of his trade.
In 139 career games with the Express over parts of 4 seasons, Grassi scored 41 goals and 45 assists for 86 points.
Glasser has spent this season with the North Bay of the NOJHL. The 18 year old Glasser is 6'0, 195 pounds.
This season in North Bay, Glasser scored 6 goals and 18 points in 25 games played.
He was recently acquired by the Merritt Centennials in a trade that saw former Express Alex Valenti and future considerations head east.
The Express would like to wish Grassi, Vandenberg, Leidl and Brodie all the best in their new destinations and thank you for your contributions.
And welcome to Burnaby Digness and Glasser.
