Victoria Royals have acquired import defenceman Alexey Sleptsov and goaltender Justin Paulic, along with a sixth round draft pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft from the Moose Jaw Warriors. In exchange for import forward Axel Blomqvist, a third round pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft and a fifth round pick in the 2017 draft to the Warriors.
Sleptsov, a native of Moscow, Russia is in his second year in the league and has recorded 18 assists in 34 games for Moose Jaw. Sleptsov has played in 100 WHL regular season games with the Warriors and has notched 43 points (4g-39a).
The 6-1, 172 lb defender has suited up for the Russian National Junior team on three occasions. This past year Sleptsov took part in the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament and the World Under-18 Hockey Championships, where he registered three points (1g-2a) in five games and one goal in four games respectively. He also won a silver medal for Russia in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge where he tallied two assists in four contests.
The Warriors selected Sleptsov in the 2013 CHL Import Draft in the first round, 19th overall.
Paulic joins the Royals after playing in 18 games for Moose Jaw this season. The 6-1, 195 lb netminder has posted a 6-8-1-1 record with a goals against average (GAA) of 3.50, a 0.895 save percentage (SV%) and one shutout. The 19-year-old goalie has played in 132 WHL games with the Warriors and has registered a mark of 40-61-8-11 with a 3.39 GAA, a SV% of 0.895 and one shutout.
A Thompson, MB product was drafted by Moose Jaw in the eighth round, 164th overall in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.
Going to the Warriors is 1995-born import forward Blomqvist. In 34 games with the Royals this season he has recorded 29 points (14g-15a). The 6-6, 212 lb winger has spent three seasons in the WHL split between Victoria and the Lethbridge Hurricanes, recording 118 points (45g-73a) in 158 games.
