The Kimberley Dynamiters roster shuffle continued Thursday as general manager Mike Reid struck two separate transactions to bolster his club.
First, Reid sent cash considerations to the Osoyoos Coyotes in exchange for 6-foot-1, 170-pound defenceman Devon Langelaar (1997).
Langelaar, a native of Red Deer, skated in four games with the Coyotes this season, tallying one assist.
“We’re only carrying six defencemen, so we were looking to bolster our back end,” Reid said Thursday. “We want to create some healthy competition.”
Langelaar joins veterans Jordan Busch, Justin Meier, Zach Morey, and rookies Lucas Purdy, Tyler Van Steinburg and George Bertoia.
Second, Reid sent future considerations to the Revelstoke Grizzlies in exchange for the KIJHL playing rights to 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward Brodie Buhler (1996).
“We’re looking to bring him in to push our top-six,” Reid said. “We know who he is. We played against him. He’s very physical and tough to play against.
“We’re pretty excited to have him and he’s pretty excited for the opportunity as well.”
Buhler, a native of Revelstoke, spent the 2014-15 season bouncing between Junior ‘A’ leagues across western Canada, splitting time with the Melville Millionaires (Saskatchewan), Drumheller Dragons (Alberta) and Steinbach Pistons (Manitoba).
Prior to the 2014-15 season, Buhler played 99 games with the Grizzlies (2011-12 through 2013-14), registering 18 goals and 31 points.
As a result of the additions, Reid is also set to move forward Justin Van Tetering.
Van Tetering, a native of Red Deer, was been given his release Thursday night and is headed for the Nelson Leafs on a try-out basis.
In seven games this season, Van Tetering went without scoring a point.
The Dynamiters are at home for a pair of the games this weekend , the first against their division rivals the Creston Valley Thunder Cats.
The Thunder Cats sit second in the Eddie Mountain Division and after last year’s heated post-season series, there’s no shortage of history between the two clubs.
“Jeff [Dubois, coach of the Thunder Cats] plays a really structured game. He’s a good coach,” Reid said looking ahead to Friday’s tilt.
“We’re going to have to earn every inch of ice. It’s going to be a very tough game.
“It’s going to be a tight game, but very entertaining…We’ve got a good rivalry with them.”
After Friday’s match-up with the Thunder Cats, the Nitros play host to the Grand Forks Border Bruins Saturday.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at the Kimberley Civic Centre both nights.
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