By Mitch Bach

Tigers trade Fischer to Chiefs, receive two players plus pick

Oct 19, 2017 | 6:45 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Tigers have struck a deal to send 20-year-old forward Zach Fischer to the Spokane Chiefs.

In return, Medicine Hat receives 18-year-old right winger Hayden Ostir, a former Chiefs second rounder, 15-year-old defenceman Eric Van Impe, and a second round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.

Fischer was placed on the Tigers suspended list after reportedly leaving the team on October 9. That opened the door for captain Mark Rassell, defenceman Kristians Rubins and goaltender Michael Bullion to remain as the team’s three over-agers.

“When Fisch chatted with us and we realized that we weren’t going to be able to work through it, we just shifted gears,” said Tigers GM and head coach Shaun Clouston. “We went to work at finding the best situation and the best return for the team and I think this is a real good deal for both teams.”

Ostir has collected three goals and six points for the Chiefs this season. The Winnipeg native has 115 WHL games to his name, scoring 12 goals and adding 17 helpers in that time. He also dressed six games for Canada White at the World U17 Hockey Challenge in 2015.

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Clouston says he’ll likely arrive in Medicine Hat Friday night, and could potentially make his Tigers debut on Sunday in Lethbridge.

“He might be in town tomorrow night, but we won’t expect him to play (against Kootenay),” continued Clouston. “Even if he gets a late start tomorrow, he should be able to be here for practice Saturday and get his bearings and shake hands and meet his new team.”

6’1″ Van Impe currently plays for the Calgary Northstars Midget AAA club, and has exploded offensively in his first few weeks of play. The Calgary native has three goals and five assists in six games. He was selected in the second round (30th overall) in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft by the Chiefs.

“I watched him play last weekend, he’s on the same team as Nick McCarry, one of our prospects,” said Clouston. “He’s off to a great start, he’s putting up big numbers.”

Clouston adds it’s possible Van Impe may be called up to play for the Tigers in the coming months, but adds there is plenty of defensive depth on the roster as it is now.

“We’ve got a lot of good, young defenceman,” added Clouston, noting Joel Craven has been improving steadily from injury and should be in the lineup next week. “We definitely want to spend some time with (Van Impe), get to know him and for sure look for opportunities to bring him in to skate with us when it fits just to get a little more familiar and comfortable.”

Medicine Hat welcomes Kootenay to the Canalta Centre Friday night before hitting the road to Lethbridge on Sunday. In less than a week, Tigers fans may see Fischer play for his new team, when Medicine Hat hosts the Spokane Chiefs next Wednesday.