The Penticton Vees announced Tuesday they have made a trade to acquire forward Andre Ghantous from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in exchange for 2000-born forward Henri Schreifels and 1999-born forward Ryan Miotto.
Ghantous, from Glendale, California, spent the past two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League’s Interior Division with the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Ghantous, born in 1998, scored nine goals with 35 assists in 57 games as a rookie during the 2016-17 season.
Last season, the five-foot-nine, 170-pound forward scored 19 goals with 25 assists and played in all 58 games.
He took his game to another level in the playoffs registering 14 points in 15 games as the Smoke Eaters reached the Interior Division final.
In the second round of the playoffs, Ghantous scored two goals and six assists as the Smoke Eaters defeated the Vees in seven games.
“We felt we needed to get older as a team and this was a move that presented itself,” said Vees head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson, in a news release. “Andre is a proven scorer in the Interior Division over the past two seasons and was at his best in the playoffs. We’re excited to add him to our team.”
Schreifels appeared in three of the Vees five games so far this season and was held pointless.
Miotto recorded two assists in five games this season.
Ghantous is expected to be in the lineup Friday when the Vees visit the Merritt Centennials. Ghantous will face his former team for the first time Saturday night when the Vees host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in their home opener.
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