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Y! MyWebECHL HOCKEY
Bombers grant Tifu's trade wish
Dayton receives young defenseman, center and left wing with what coach calls 'energy and character.'
Friday, August 15, 2008
Dayton Bombers center Yannick Tifu is headed south.
The ECHL All-Star, who led the league in assists for much of the 2007-08 season, will be traded to the Florida Everblades pending final approval from the league.
Bombers owner Costa Papista considers it a "done deal," as the teams have already received verbal approval from the league. The Bombers get defenseman Steve Czech, center Jarret Lukin, left wing Mike McLean and future considerations.
"We were not looking to trade Tifu. He wanted to be traded," Papista said. "We are, however, very pleased with what we got in return."
The Everblades trio tallied a combined 66 points last season. Czech has spent the past three seasons with the Everblades. Lukin was in his first full season in Florida after leaving the University of Calgary after two years. McLean was acquired by the Everblades early in the 2007-08 season from Elmira.
"I have all the respect in the world for Yannick, and I hate to see him go, but if he doesn't want to play here, he doesn't want to play here, and my job is to take care of the Dayton Bombers," coach Bill McDonald said. "I'm looking for young players with energy and character, and I think we got that in these guys."
Tifu, 23, had 15 points and 42 assists but played only 39 games in Dayton last season. A broken wrist sidelined him for the Bombers' short-lived playoff run.
He played for Rochester (15 games, three points) and Albany (nine games, five points), Florida's AHL affiliates. The Bombers are no longer affiliated with an AHL team after being dropped by the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets last year.
"We were aware of what Tifu was capable of and we were aware of his interest," Everblades president and general manager Craig Brush said. "We also know there's a big risk associated with the trade, no question about it, because we're giving up some quality players, and Tifu could be called up at any time.
"But we're not a team to hold anyone back, so we're willing to take the risk and hope that he's here long enough to contribute to our team."
2007-08 regular season
Player Games Goals Assists Points PIM
Yannick Tifu 39 15 42 57 39
Steve Czech 57 4 10 14 56
Jarret Lukin 72 10 20 30 56
Mike McLean 54 9 13 22 28
