Thunderbirds trade Michael Horon to the Prince Albert Raiders

KENT – Moments after Seattle’s 4-2 loss at home to the Everett Silvertips, Thunderbirds general manager Bil La Forge announced that the team had a made a trade.

Seattle sent forward Michael Horon, 18, to the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for a 2020 seventh-round draft pick.

“Mike’s been good for us,” La Forge said. “With (Matthew) Rempe getting back and Kai (Uchacz) and Conner (Roulette) coming back from U17’s, we’ve got to have ice time and roster spots for our younger players. He was kind of in the middle of the experienced guys and the younger guys. We just wanted to clear that stall more than anything. We’ve got Mekai (Sanders) who might be back in the next few weeks.”

Horon was acquired last year in a trade that sent Liam Hughes to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He played in 14 games for Seattle this year, scoring once while adding seven assists. Prior to being in the Lethbridge system, Horon had been drafted by the Everett Silvertips when La Forge was Director of Player Perssonel.

The speedy forward had been playing well of late, scoring his first WHL goal Friday night against the Kamloops Blazers.

“I’ve known Mike for a long time, I drafted him when he was 14,” La Forge said. “I’m proud of the fact that we got him into the league, and we developed him into a WHL hockey player. He’s the kind of kid who can be a sneaky scorer in this league.”

Horon will join a Prince Albert team that is sitting in first place of the East Division with a 13-4-3-0 record.

The move makes the Thunderbirds younger as they lose a player from the 2001 age group.

“This is a young year and we know that,” La Forge said. “There’s been a couple of games that we haven’t been in but most of the games we’ve been right there. I’ve been really proud of our coaches and the ways our guys are competing.”

Seattle will next be in action on Saturday night when the Portland Winterhawks will come to the accesso ShoWare Center.

Follow @AndyEide