Lethbridge, AB – Lethbridge Hurricanes GM and Head Coach Rich Preston announced Monday the team traded 17-year old Forward Jay Merkley to the Swift Current Broncos for Left Winger Josh Derko and a 3^rd round pick in 2014.

The native of Calgary, AB played in all 44 games this season and registered 22 points (14G, 8A), he had a +1 plus/minus rating and had 8 PIM’s. In his rookie campaign last season, Merkley had 23 points (12G, 11A) in 58 games.

Merkley was a highly touted midget hockey player with and the Hurricanes drafted him in the 1^st round (3^rd overall) in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft, he also represented Team West at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge for Team Pacific last year.

Head Coach and GM Rich Preston stated “the Lethbridge Hurricanes organization would like to thank Jay for his commitment and dedication to our hockey club. Jay is a fine young man and a very skilled hockey player, which made this trade very difficult to make. We wish Jay all the best of luck in Swift Current.”

In Derko, the Canes get a towering 6’2, 196 lb. left winger. The 19-year old from Sherwood Park, AB was drafted by the Swift Current Broncos in the 5^th round (100^th overall) in the 2008 Bantam Draft. In 31 games this season he has 11 points (3G, 8A), he’s a -4 plus/minus rating and has 68 PIM’s. Derko is expected to join the team in time for practice on Tuesday.