Photo credit: Ed McPherson/OJHL Images
Penticton, BC: The Penticton Vees have announced the acquisition of 2000-born defenceman Mason Snell from the Powell River Kings as part of a four-team trade.
In the deal, the Vees acquired Tanner Hopps from the Victoria Grizzlies in exchange for future considerations. Hopps was then moved to the Drayton Valley Thunder of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in exchange for forward Trevor Ayre.
Ayre was then moved to the Langley Rivermen for defenceman Jayden Lee, who was then sent to Powell River for Snell.
Snell, from Clarington, Ontario, split the 2017-18 season with the OJHL’s Whitby Fury and Wellington Dukes scoring six goals with 14 assists. He then appeared in 25 playoff games for Wellington, scoring one goal and adding 12 assists to help the Dukes win the OJHL’s Buckland Cup.
The 6’, 192-pound defenceman posted three assists in four games during the Dudley Hewitt Cup, helping the Dukes reach the Royal Bank Cup in Chilliwack where Snell recorded two assists in six games as the Dukes reached the RBC Cup final, ultimately losing to the Chiefs.
Snell also suited up for Team Canada East at the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge in Truro, Nova Scotia, being held pointless in four games.
“Mason is an experienced defenceman who played in a lot of big games last year,” Vees head coach, general manager and president Fred Harbinson said. “He’s committed to a great program in Penn State, has national championship experience as well as playing on the International stage. He will be a big addition to our program.”
Snell will join the rest of his teammates later this month when training camp begins in late August.
