Team Canada forward traded in the middle of World Junior Championship.

You don't see this happen every year. 

According to a breaking news report from the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, one of Team Canada's forwards at the World Junior Championship will be a member of a brand new team once he returns home after the International Ice Hockey Federation's yearly tournament. The Storm are reporting that they have made a blockbuster trade deal with Hamilton Bulldogs and have acquired 19 year old Canadian forward Mackenzie Entwistle.

Entwistle of course is currently representing Canada at the World Junior Championship, although Canada's run at that tournament is already over, and this is a move that must have caught him completely off guard this morning. Not only has Entwistle been an excellent performer for the Hamilton Bulldogs, he had 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points in 29 games this season prior to leaving for the World Juniors, but he was also currently the organizations captain on the ice. If you're wondering why the Bulldogs would trade such a player it likely has something to do with the massive return the Storm have given up in order to make this move a reality.

According to the announcement from the Storm they are giving up no less than 5 draft picks in this deal, although none of the picks will come in the first round. The Storm are giving up a pair of 2nd round picks at the 2020 OHL Draft, a 3rd round pick at the 2020 OHL draft, a 3rd round pick at the 2021 OHL draft and a 3rd round pick at the 2023 OHL draft all in exchange for Entwistle, the only player in this trade. 

The Storm have released a statement via their head coach following the massive trade deal this morning.

“We are very excited to acquire a player of Mackenzie’s calibre,” said Storm head coach George Burnett as per TSN.  “He is a proven champion and an outstanding two-way player that can carry a heavy workload in all situations.   As a former captain in our league, he will provide leadership and experience to our group.”

Entwistle remains property of the Chicago Blackhawks at the National Hockey League level and it will be interesting to see how this move impacts both the rest of his current season as well as his development moving forward.

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