KENNEWICK -- Today is the Western Hockey League trade deadline, but many general managers in the league were busy at work Monday, tweaking their lineups for the playoff run.
Tri-City general manager Bob Tory, who on Saturday made a trade with Everett for forward Jesse Mychan, traded 17-year-old defenseman Riley Guenther on Monday to the Prince Albert Raiders for a fifth-round draft pick in the 2013 bantam draft.
"I was a chance to recoup a draft pick we gave up for Mychan, and for Riley to play," Tory said. "With eight defensemen, it was unlikley he would get back into the lineup. He'll go to Prince Albert and get a chance to play. We owe that to him to further his career."
Mychan, at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, gives the WHL-leading Americans more size up front, which will pay dividends down the stretch.
"He brings an element not many players bring -- size and depth to our forward lines," Tory said. "Jesse is a Mike Brown-type of player."
Other than the Guenther trade, Tory's phone was quiet Monday. But that could change today.
"We like our team and we like our young players," Tory said. "There's no need to dramatically change what we are doing. We are interested in many players, but they have to be quality players. We will look at everything, but we are not going to be stupid with what we do."
Mychan, who joined the Americans on Monday, said he was surprised by the trade.
"I didn't see my jersey hanging up in my locker," Mychan said of his arrival to Comcast Arena last Saturday. "They told me Tri-City wanted me. I went from worst to first. It was tough. I'll miss the guys in Everett, but I hope to go for a long playoff run here. The guys have been real welcoming -- it's like a family here. It's a winning atmosphere, and I'm really excited to be here."
Mychan played the last season and a half with the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League before joining Everett this season. He had 17 goals, 38 points and 248 penalty minutes in 81 games.
At 19, he delayed his WHL entry in hopes of securing an NCAA scholarship, but didn't have the credits coming out of high school.
With Everett, he had three goals, four assists and 106 penalty minutes in 26 games. He also was suspended by the league three times for a total of 14 games, including a 10-game suspension for a checking-to-the-head major penalty.
"I'll try to keep my nose clean while I'm here and play some hockey," Mychan said. "I like to hit, go in the dirty areas, and I'm not afraid to mix it up. I'm here to protect the other guys."
Mychan joins a group of forwards that features six players with 30 or more points, led by Adam Hughesman, who leads the team with 26 goals, 40 assists and 66 points.
Hughesman, in his fifth year with the team, scored his 300th career point Saturday with a goal against Everett. He is just the fifth Tri-City player to reach the plateau, joining Brian Sakic (429), Daymond Langkow (378), Brent Ascroft (365) and Terry Degner (304).
It's special," Hughesman said. "I'm honored to be beside their names. Those guys did a lot for this organization and I'm happy to follow in their footsteps."
NOTES: The biggest move Monday saw the Brandon Wheat Kings acquire C Kevin Sundher, 19, from the Victoria Royals in exchange for D Jordan Fransoo, 18, LW Dakota Conroy, 17, and a first-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. Also, the Edmonton Oil Kings traded F Cam Reid to the Portland Winterhawks in exchange for a eighth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. ... The Moose Jaw Warriors traded D Tyler Vanscourt to the Vancouver Giants in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft.The Giants also traded F Levi Bews (17) to the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. ... The Lethbridge Hurricanes traded F Cam Braes to the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft and a second-round pick in the 2013 bantam draft. ... The WHL nominated Tri-City's Ty Rimmer for CHL goaltender of the week after posting two shutouts over Moose Jaw and Everett.
