Days ahead of the WHL’s January 10^th trade deadline, the Lethbridge Hurricanes made a move by sending Jay Merkley to the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for Josh Derko and a 3^rd round pick in 2014.

Derko admits the trade caught him off guard “in all honesty I was surprised by the trade, I’ve been really happy in Swift Current, they’ve been really good to me and I didn’t think it would ever happen but now that it has, I’m happy to have a new start in Lethbridge and I’m looking forward to it.”

The 19-year old from Sherwood Park, AB was drafted by Swift Current 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 and he’s ready to jump in and help the team. “I feel like I’m a team guy, not afraid to fight when the team needs it, just hard working physical player, I’ve got a good shot, but mostly just a big physical guy.” At 6’2 and 196 lbs., Head Coach and GM Rich Preston likes what Derko brings to the team “he’s a a big strong, aggressive forward who is a great teammate, a leader and one of the Captains on the Broncos.'

In adding Derko’s size and physicality to the lineup the Hurricanes parted ways with their highly touted 2010 1^st round (3^rd overall) Bantam pick Jay Merkley. In his two seasons with the Hurricanes the Calgary, AB native had 45 points (26G, 19A) in 102 games.