NEWS PHOTO RYAN MCCRACKEN — Medicine Hat Tigers forward Tyler Preziuso looks to make a pass to defenceman Cole Clayton during a Western Hockey League game against the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Canalta Centre. Preziuso was traded to the Vancouver Giants Saturday, along with teammate Trevor Longo, for overage defenceman Dylan Plouffe and 18-year-old forward Lukas Svejkovsky.
Tyler Preziuso and Trevor Longo are heading back to their home province after being traded from the Medicine Hat Tigers to the Vancouver Giants in a blockbuster deal Saturday.
In return, the Tigers acquire overage defenceman Dylan Plouffe and 18-year-old forward Lukas Svejkovsky — both of whom are expected to make their debut in orange and black for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. matchup against the Everett Silvertips at the Canalta Centre.
Bantam draft picks were also involved in the transaction, with Medicine Hat giving up a first-round selection in 2020 and a conditional fifth-rounder in 2021 in exchange for a third-round pick in the upcoming draft and a conditional fifth-rounder next year.
Preziuso spent the first 293 games of his WHL career in Medicine Hat, and quickly became a fixture with his speed down the wing. Over four-plus seasons in the Gas City, the 5-foot-11, 184-pound Victoria product racked up 55 goals with 83 assists and is on pace for a career year with 22 points in his first 28 games.
Longo joins his hometown Giants on pace to shatter last year’s offensive numbers with four goals and six assists over his first 27 games — three shy of last season’s point total. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound North Vancouver product finished with 27 points over his 110 games with the Tabbies. .
Plouffe enters the Tigers dressing room with 272 Western Hockey League games under his belt. In that time, the 6-foot, 201-pound Sherwood Park product has collected 28 goals and 95 assists, including five goals and 17 helpers in 28 games this season. Plouffe — now Medicine Hat’s second overage blueliner alongside Parker Gavlas — also boasts 17 points in 29 games of playoff experience.
Svejkovsky broke into the WHL last season and has been steadily increasing in offensive production ever since. After posting nine goals and 17 assists over 67 games with Vancouver last season, the 5-foot-9, 158-pound Washington product has already put up five of each in 18 contests this year.
