Osoyoos Coyote Adam Diotte travels down the ice during the team’s match against the Kelowna Chiefs in Osoyoos.
(File photo)
By Dale Boyd
Osoyoos Times
The Osoyoos Coyotes head coach says fans will see a “new team” next season as the club acquires some development fees from players moving on.
Forward Brax Klassen, who came to Osoyoos from North Vancouver, is heading closer to home in a trade with the Campbell River Storm and forward Tyler Badger was traded to the Nelson Leafs.
The Coyotes received player development fees in both trades, which act as a retainer with cash value to put toward future players and prospects.
• Read more: Alberta brothers commit to Coyotes
Badger has family and friends in Nelson where he will continue to play hockey.
“We are going to miss (Klassan and Badger) the club level definitely. They have done some great things here, but for them to move on and be successful in another club that’s for sure an asset for themselves,” said Dean Maynard, Coyotes head coach.
Coyotes defenceman Adam Diotte is also leaving the club, moving up to Jr. A hockey in Saskatchewan with the Notre Dame Hounds.
“We’re going to definitely miss him, I talked to Adam quite a bit. He’s one of those players that could definitely help our club this year, but he’s moving on to a higher division, which is also great for our club,” Maynard said. “That’s one of my main goals here in Osoyoos as a coach is to move players on to the next level. I think that’s a bigger success for the organization if we can say we move on players to the next level.”
The development fees acquired by the Coyotes may be put to use in the near future, with Maynard promising some exciting developments before the start of the season.
“We always look at making some big moves in the off-season. I’ve been talking to a lot of clubs and some high-end players. I think you guys will see a definitely new team this year with the Coyotes,” Maynard said.
