It’s Thanksgiving Day in the United States, so the perfect day to add a little American flavor to the Grande Prairie Storm lineup.
The Storm announced today that forward Evan Rochowiak, from Livonia, MI, has arrived in the city and will be in the lineup this weekend when the Storm host the Whitecourt Wolverines in games Saturday (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.) in Revolution Arena.
Rochowiak, 19, was acquired from the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League where he played 36 games last year and 20 this. He has nine goals and 16 assists over those 56 games with five of those goals and seven assists coming this year.
“We are excited to acquire Evan and add him to our lineup,” said Storm head coach/general manager Kevin Higo. “He is a big body forward who has a full year of experience in the AJHL. He has already surpassed his point totals from last year and has been playing well.”
Rochowiak is six-foot-two and 181 pounds.
Leaving the city is 18-year-old forward Tristan Paquette, who was sent to the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Paquette was acquired earlier this month from the Calgary Mustangs and appeared in six games with the Storm with no goals, two helpers and two minutes in penalties.
“Even though it was a short stop for Tristan with the Storm, we would like to thank him for his time here in Grande Prairie,” Higo said.
Rochowiak has arrived in Grande Prairie and is expected to practice today and tomorrow and be in the line up this weekend versus the White court Wolverines.
Paquette is a native of Airdrie, AB and had played 20 games earlier this year with the Mustangs.