The Drumheller Dragons and the Sherwood Park Crusaders completed a multi-player transaction involving four players, it was announced Tuesday.

The Dragons have sent 2001 born forward Brett Wieschorster and 1999 born forward Tyson Scott to the Sherwood Park Crusaders in exchange for the rights to 1999 born goaltender Joshua Brindza and 2000 born defenseman Aiden Yakimchuk.    

Brindza is a 6’1 goaltender from Edmonton, Alberta. He has earned 15 starts during his first season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League split between the Crusaders and the Olds Grizzlys. Yakimchuk is also from Edmonton and is a 6’3 left shot defenseman. In 39 games played with Sherwood Park last season the shut down defender contributed 7 points and 10 pims.

Wieschorster returns to his home town Sherwood Park to continue his junior career. In 51 games played last season, Wieschorster contributed 13 points and added 65 pims. Wieschorster earned an NCAA commitment with the University of Vermont in his first season in the AJHL. Tyson Scott is a 6’2 forward from Turner Valley Alberta. In 56 games played with the Dragons, Tyson contributed 44 points including 3 points in 9 games played during the play-offs.

"The entire Drumheller Dragons organization would like to thank the Wieschorster family and the Scott family for the positive contributions to the Dragons hockey team. We would also like to welcome the Brindza family and the Yakimchuk family to the Drumheller community," the organization said in a release.

After their strong second round playoff push and a disappointing finish last season, the Drumheller Dragons are looking to build on last year’s success when they hit the ice once again come September.

Head coach Kevin Hasselberg believes the pieces are in place for another strong season but the team is raising their standards.

“We were okay with the results, but it’s going to drive us this season. What we achieved was good, but we want to be great. It all starts with our work ethic and the belief that hard work works,” he says.

The organization believes finding players who fit the identity and culture of the organization is key to their success, and scouts have been looking for players with a strong work ethic and a willingness to improve themselves.

“Leadership is critical. Those leaders on the team identify themselves with who they are as people and with their actions. We feel, as a staff, there is a great core of leaders in our dressing room now and with the new players coming in,” Hasselberg says. “There’s a certain type of player who is going to be successful in Drumheller in relation to the community and the resources available. It starts with the work ethic – we want passionate players who are dedicated to self improvement. And it’s not just on the ice surface but their dedication to their own personal development, whether it’s in the classroom or in the gym.”

Hasselberg says while the team is only as good as the sum of its parts, there are a few key players to watch for this season. Goaltender Hunter Virostek will be playing his third season with the club and is a proven leader for new players entering the Dragons. Jordan Taupert, a 2017-2018 AJHL Allstar, is an “offensive genius” who was the Dragons’ points leader with 74 points in the regular season and whose style and energy “gets fans out of their seats,” and according to his coach he will “no doubt be an offensive leader in the AJHL and, quite honestly, probably all of Canada.”

Off the ice, the Dragons are asking community members to consider being a billet family and to host a Dragons player for the upcoming season. Those interested in hearing more can call or text 403-821-4502.