Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Shane Smith warms up ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Championship on April 25 at Medicine Hat against the Tigers. The former Tigers' forward was traded to the Kelowna Rockets on Sunday as part of a nine-piece deal.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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The Kelowna Rockets executed a pair of trades on Sunday as they continue to build a Memorial Cup-worthy roster.
Sunday evening the 2026 Memorial Cup hosts swung a deal with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, acquiring 20-year-old forward Shane Smith and 2007-born forward Vojtech Cihar in exchange for two skaters and five draft picks.
Lethbridge receives 19-year-old forward Kayden Longley, the signing rights to 2010-born forward Grayson Bauer, a conditional 2026 first-round pick (Regina/Saskatoon’s), a 2027 third, a 2026 fourth (Regina’s), a 2026 sixth (Lethbridge’s) and a conditional 2028 fourth.
Smith, a former Medicine Hat Tiger, is off to a hot start in his overage season with 12 goals and 23 points in 20 games with the Hurricanes. In 223 career WHL games he has 72 goals and 138 points, adding three goals and eight points in 23 playoff games.
The Cessford, Alta. product was traded to Lethbridge last season in a one-for-one deal for goaltender Harrison Meneghin.
Cihar, a 2025 second-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings, has not played for Lethbridge since being selected 38th overall in the 2024 CHL Import Draft. In 18 games with HC Energie Karlovy Vary of the Czechia league, the Chomutov, Czechia product has two goals and five points. He has a Hlinka Gretzky Cup silver medal and a bronze at the 2025 World Juniors.
Longley has five goals and 12 points in 15 games with the Rockets this season. The Wainwright, Alta. product has 24 goals and 63 points in 136 career WHL games.
The Rockets and Hurricanes will meet on Nov. 14 in Kelowna.
The Rockets started the day off by acquiring a pair of draft picks in a deal with the Edmonton Oil Kings, sending 17-year-old forward Kanjyu Gojsic to the Central division leaders.
Edmonton traded Kelowna a 2026 third-round pick (Prince George’s) and a 2029 fourth-round pick, also receiving a 2029 sixth-round pick from the Rockets.
Gojsic has two assists through 10 games this season with Kelowna. He had seven goals and 18 points in 59 games last year in his rookie season. The Langley, B.C. product leaves behind his older brother Hiroki, a Nashville Predators prospect on the Rockets.
The newest Oil King joins his new team as they hit the road for their B.C. road trip, starting Tuesday in Kamloops against the Blazers. Edmonton faces Kelowna on Nov. 19.
