T-Birds acquire Noah Philp from Kootenay

On Monday, the Thunderbirds swapped their 2018 and 2019 fifth-round Bantam Draft selections in exchange for Kootenay’s Noah Philp.

Philp, 19, has played two seasons for the Ice and registered 41 points on 14 goals and 27 assists in 132 games played. The Canmore, Alta. native’s addition gives Seattle a total of seven 1998-born players on their roster, including fellow offseason addition Blake Bargar.

Seattle’s preseason roster still features nine forwards who would qualify as rookies in the Western Hockey League, demonstrating Seattle’s need to add more experience up front. According to the press release announcing the trade on Kootenay’s website, Philp has had a very strong camp, but his age and the Ice’s focus on the future likely factored into their decision to trade him now for future picks.

The T-Birds faced Kootenay in their most recent preseason game, falling 5-3 despite leading 3-1 early in the second period. Philp was a big part of the Ice’s comeback, registering a goal and an assist. In two preseason games, he has three points on one goal and two assists.