Chiefs acquire Calgary Flames prospect Zach Fischer from Medicine Hat
The Spokane Chiefs announced Thursday that they have acquired 20-year-old Calgary Flames prospect Zach Fischer from the Medicine Hat Tigers in exchange for 18-year-old forward Hayden Ostir, 16-year-old defenseman prospect Eric Van Impe and a second-round pick in the 2019 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.
In a corresponding move by the Chiefs, 20-year-old forward Rykr Cole has been released to waivers.
“We are very excited to add Zach to our team,” Chiefs general manager Scott Carter said. “He is a proven scorer who has strength and an edge to his game that we like. He is tough to play against and is a good leader.”
Fischer, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound forward from Lloydminster, Alberta, scored 34 goals and 29 assists for 63 points in 62 games with the Tigers last season, racking up 145 penalty minutes along the way. He added seven goals and three assists in 11 playoff games. In three games with the Tigers this season, he scored one goal and 13 PIM.
After his breakout 19-year-old season, the Flames selected the power forward with their fifth-round (140th overall) pick in the 2017 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
“When you acquire a player of Zach’s caliber, you have to give up something in return and that’s never easy,” Carter said. “Hayden and Eric were both valuable members of our organization and we wish them the best in Medicine Hat.”
Ostir, a forward from Winnipeg, scored 12 goals and 16 assists in 115 games with the Chiefs, including six points (three goals and three assists) in 10 games this season. Van Impe was the Chiefs’ second-round (30th overall) pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft and is playing for the Calgary Northstars Midget AAA team of the Alberta Midget Hockey League.
Cole, 20, was acquired by the Chiefs in a trade with Regina last season. In 37 games with Spokane between the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, he scored two goals and added seven assists.
“Rykr has done everything that was asked of him here in Spokane, but unfortunately we had to release him to get under the overage limit after this trade,” Carter said. “We hope to see him picked up by a team moving forward.”
The Chiefs host the Kamloops Blazers at the Arena at 7:05 p.m. on Friday.