General manager Billy McCreary has officially executed his first trade as head coach of the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks. The team has acquired forwards Benjamin Biester and Luke Wheeler from the Corpus Christi IceRays in exchange for forward Chris Rubenach and a 2021 third-round pick.
Biester, an ’01-born Danville, CA native, played 14 games in the BCHL with the Victoria Grizzlies before finishing the season in Texas with the IceRays. He recorded six points in 31 games with Corpus Christi.
“Biester will bring leadership to both ends of the rink,” McCreary commented. “He fits in well with the way we want to play. He embraces hard-nosed hockey, he’s great on the penalty kill and possesses the ability to contribute offensively.”
Wheeler, an ’00-born Littleton, CO native, was acquired late last season by the IceRays. He posted 13 points in 32 games with the Janesville Jets before getting dealt to Corpus Christi, where he played in eight additional games.
Said McCreary of his new forward, “Luke Wheeler is a versatile player who will push the pace up and down the ice sheet. He’ll not only bring leadership to our locker room, but he is a tenacious player who embodies the way hockey is played in Danbury. He is exceptional on the PK and has the ability to provide a spark in any situation.”
The departing Rubenach notched 16 points in 41 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights last season.
