The Kootenay Ice made a blockbuster trade on Monday morning, sending team-leading scorers Zak Zborosky and Matt Alfaro to the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for forwards Brett Davis (June 1, 1999) and Colton Kroeker (January 21, 1997), along with second and fourth round selections in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.
The deal was announced by Ice General Manager, Jeff Chynoweth in a press release the morning after the duo spent Sunday night’s game against the Vancouver Giants in the press box of Western Financial Place.
Zborosky and Alfaro have spent their entire careers together with Kootenay.
Zak Zborosky was a fifth round selection, 105th overall, by the Kootenay Ice in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft. Zborosky appeared in 237 games for the ICE, recording 173 points. His 86 career tallies place him 15th among career franchise goal-scoring leaders.
This year Zborosky has put up 28 goals through 41 games which has him tied for fifth place in WHL goal-scoring with now-teammate Tyler Wong.
Undrafted, Alfaro was listed by the Kootenay Ice in March of 2012. Alfaro played in 243 career games with the Club, scoring 50 goals and adding 83 assists for a total of 133 points. He is in the midst of a career season with 39 points in 41 games.
“Our focus heading into this year’s Trade Deadline was to add to our complement of 1999-born players as well as a veteran forward who can be a two-year player for our club. Brett Davis provides youth and skill to our lineup, while Colton Kroeker will be a top-six forward. We are excited to add them both to our group. This is a trade that benefits both teams, and along with the draft selections addresses our needs as we continue rebuilding for the future,” stated Chynoweth in the team’s release.
“We thank Matt Alfaro and Zak Zborosky for all they have done for our club both on and off the ice over their four years in Cranbrook,” Chynoweth added.
Colton Kroeker will join the Ice as the team’s leading scorer, having racked up 27 points in 41 games with the ‘Canes, two more than defenceman Cale Fleury.
The Ice will meet the Hurricanes three more times this season, with Zborosky and Alfaro’s return to Western Financial Place taking place on February 12.
