ODESSA, TX — The trade deadline for the North American Hockey League came and passed at 1:00 AM on Sunday morning. The Jackalopes completed several trades at the deadline in hopes of shoring up their roster and putting the organization in a better position to make a run at the playoffs and set themselves up for future success.
The Jackalopes started things off by acquiring defenseman Conner Couet from the St. Cloud Norsemen in exchange for draft picks. Couet, who has a brother playing for the Wichita Falls Warriors, made his Jackalopes debut this past Thursday against the Shreveport Mudbugs. He already has eight registered shots on goal in three games played with Odessa.
In addition, the Jackalopes added defenseman Stephen Perez from the Maine Nordiques in exchange for picks. Perez played in the last three games for Odessa and has been praised as a solid defensive defenseman by coach Jason Fortier.
The Jackalopes also added two new players via trade with the New Jersey Titans in exchange for draft picks. Defenseman Nate Boak and forward Joe Schubert will be coming to Odessa. Boak, a native of Canton, New York, has five assists on the season in 18 games played with the Titans. He is just one of two players in the NAHL with a perfect percentage in the shootout this season.
Schubert, a commit to the Unites States Air Force Academy, has four goals and three assists this season in 13 games played for the Titans. He is a native of Oconowiowoc, Wisconsin and will be a welcomed addition to the offense.
Coach Fortier is excited for the recent additions to the Jackalopes roster, seeing it as a way to inject the lineup with skilled youth that will serve the organization well into the future.
“We get younger with returning players for next year. We can build on the culture for next season as well. But these are also skilled players so expectations are high for them right now,” Fortier said. “Hopefully they bring that youthful enthusiasm and skill and we can break out with them in the lineup.”
The Jackalopes traded some of their older players to teams at the deadline as well. Nick Siffringer, was dealt to the Amarillo Bulls in exchange for picks. Odessa also dealt defensemen Adam Kolcon to Shreveport and Hunter Carrick to Maine, both in exchange for draft picks.
“At the end of the day, we wanted to give older players a chance to play with teams that are ahead of us, and allow younger players to step up,” Coach Fortier said.
The Jackalopes will have a little over a week to get acquainted with the roster moves before they travel to North Richland Hills for a two-game series against the New Mexico Ice Wolves on Monday and Tuesday February 15 and 16.
