The Brandon Wheat Kings added some size and experience to the back end on Monday morning, acquiring 20-year-old veteran Dom Schmiemann from the Tri-City Americans.
In exchange for the 6’4" rearguard, Brandon gave up a fifth-round pick in the 2020 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft as well as a conditional sixth-round selection in 2022.
"We’ve watched our team through the first few games and we felt we needed to change the makeup of our defense," said General Manager Darren Ritchie. "We’re excited to add a guy like Dominic to our team."
Schmiemann has played in 198 WHL games with Swift Current, Calgary and Tri-City, posting 37 points and 262 PIMS. He’s also suited up in 14 WHL playoff games.
"He’s an experienced guy coming from good organizations," added Ritchie. "He’s going to be a guy that’s hard to play against. He’s a real good defender."
The move leaves the Wheat Kings with three overage players as Thursday’s deadline looms, Connor Gutenberg, Jiri Patera, Zach Wytinck and Schmiemann.
WHL teams have until noon on October 10th to be down to four 1999 born players.
"We’ve got some work to do and it’s going to be a tough decision. We have three (Gutenberg, Patera, Wytinck) outstanding young men here that we have a lot of time for as players and especially as people. It’s not going to be easy but we’re going work away at it here in the next 24 to 48 hours."
If a trade can’t be worked out, the player will be placed on the "Waiver" wire, with all 21 WHL teams having a chance to acquire him. If not, that player becomes a CHL free agent and could join any team in the OHL or QMJHL (Similar to Quintin Lisoway in 15-16 or Jacob DeSerres in 10-11). That player could also elect to report to the Junior ‘A’ team that holds their playing rights.
Schmiemann will wear #34 for the Wheat Kings and is expected to practice with the club on Wednesday at Westoba Place.
