More offensive help is on the way to Penticton after the Vees dealt Anthony Conti to Surrey in exchange for the Eagles’ third-leading scorer.
Nicolas Pierog’s 26 goals and 38 points also make him the new third-leading scorer on the Vees, who announced the deal Saturday.
Vees general manager Fred Harbinson said two things standout with the newest acquisition.
“Nic played a big part in stopping us short of repeating as Fred Page Cup champions last spring,” he said in a team statement. “The addition of Nic not only adds scoring to our line-up but he also gives us much needed size at the centre position.”
The six-foot-two, 220-pound Pierog is a native of Georgetown, Ont. The 20-year-old was in his second season as a forward with Surrey. He helped lead the Eagles to a semifinal appearance at the 2013 RBC Cup in Summerside, PEI. Last season, Pierog picked up nine goals and 24 points in 54 regular season games and followed that up with nine goals and 10 points in 17 playoff games.
Conti, 18, was sent west along with future considerations. He has nine goals and 26 points on the season. He arrived in Penticton after spending parts of the previous two seasons with Coquitlam and Trail. Conti is committed to Alaska-Anchorage for the 2015-16 season.
Pierog, who will wear 61, is expected to make his Penticton debut when the Vees return to action on Sunday to host the Merritt Centennials at 3 p.m. at the South Okanagan Events Centre. The clubs battled to a 1-1 draw Friday in Merritt.
