In a move to help ease their over-age situation, the Rockets have dealt defenseman Mitchell Wheaton to the Saskatoon Blades for a fourth round pick in the 2017 WHL bantam draft.
The Sherwood Park, AB native was in his third full season with the Rockets but missed most of the 2014-15 season due to injury, playing in just four regular season games and nine in the playoffs.
“(Mitch) is going to get a fresh start with Saskatoon and we wish him well,” said Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton. “With our over-age situation (only being allowed to keep three) we felt this was a good move at this time for Mitch and for our team.”
Wheaton played 100 regular season games with the Rockets with a career-best 28 points in 2013-14.
With Wheaton’s departure, the Rockets are likely to have four 20-year-old players vying for three roster spots next season—Jackson Whistle, Gage Quinney, Tyson Baillie and Cole Linaker.
