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Written by Dale Woodard
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Thursday, November 05 2009, 10:54 PM |
Dustin Donaghy is the new guy in town.
Sort of.
The Lethbridge Hurricanes announced Thursday they acquired the 20-year-old forward from the Spokane Chiefs in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft, the same pick acquired from the Tri-City Americans earlier this season in exchange for U.S. born defenceman Cody Castro.
A familiar face will greet Donaghy when he arrives in town in time for the ’Canes to host the Swift Current Broncos Saturday night at the Enmax Centre.
That familiar face is none other than Hurricanes captain Carter Bancks, who played minor hockey with Donaghy in Cranbrook.
“He knows him really well and says he’s as tough as nails and a really good skater,” said Hurricanes general manager and coach Rich Preston of Donaghy, a 20-year-old, five-foot-11, 200 pound left winger from Cranbrook.
“He can really skate and obviously he’s tough. He gives us some speed up front. He scored 10 goals last year and was on the Memorial Cup team (in 2008).
The forward is expected to be in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Swift Current Broncos.
Donaghy is a three-year WHL veteran with 123 games played, potting 11 goals and 26 points to go along with 201 minutes in penalties. A veteran at 20, Donaghy also brings with him 20 games of WHL playoff experience.
The newest Hurricanes speed and grit made him an appealing prospect, said Preston.
“I think we wanted some speed and to get both in one package was intriguing.”
Donaghy will take over one of the three 20-year-old spots on the Hurricanes with forward Radim Valchar being placed on waivers, a move that became necessary when defenceman Luca Sbisa returned to Lethbridge from Anaheim, forcing the ’Canes to free up a European spot.
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