Grizzlys make another trade

The Olds Grizzlys have made another trade.

The team traded top scoring centre Ryley Smith to the Whitecourt Wolverines in exchange for acquired right wing Cody Laskosky.

The move was announced Oct. 20.

Laskosky, 18, in his second season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), has 47 points in 69 career games.

This season, Laskosky, from New Norway, Alta., has three goals ñ including one powerplay marker -- and seven assists for 10 points in 15 games. He's racked up 10 minutes in penalties.

Laskosky is six-feet tall and weighs 160 pounds.

As of late last week, Smith, who stands 6'1" and weighs 170 pounds, had amassed six goals -- including three powerplay markers -- and eight assists for 14 points in 12 games. He had racked up 27 penalty minutes.

"The Grizzlys would like to thank Ryley for his dedication and commitment to the organization and wish him all the best with his future hockey endeavours," a Grizzlys news release says.

Head coach Adam Redmond says the decision to trade Smith was "more Ryley's decision. He had asked for a trade; felt it was time to move on."

"It was just more in terms of thinking about his future. He felt it was best for him to find another team that he could basically get an opportunity with that he felt would give him an opportunity for him to get a scholarship," he adds.

It's been a tough year for the Grizzlys. As of late last week, they were tied for last place in the AJHL's Viterra South division with five wins, seven losses and one overtime loss for 11 points in 13 games.

As a 20-year-old, Smith is in his last year of junior hockey eligibility.

By contrast, as an 18-year-old, Laskosky could be around for a while, Redmond notes.

"This kid here, he scored close to 40 points last year. He's a '99, so he has a possibility of playing here for three years," Redmond says.

"We're super excited to have him. I've watched him play. He's a quick, gritty forward with skill and I think he's going to fit in right away with our team."

Redmond concedes the team isn't getting more size by getting Laskosky for Smith, but they're getting toughness.

"Ryley's a finesse player. You know, he likes to create offence from the perimeter, which is what skilled guys do," Redmon says. "Cody's a little tougher in the corners, a little grittier. He'll forecheck really hard (and) finish checks. So I think that's something that coincides with what we want to bring to the team, right?"