(Photo of Urbanec by Manny Brizuela, WSHL)
The top four scorers from the Las Vegas Thunderbirds, Tomas Urbanec, Emil Svartbro, Christoffer Juvas, and Filip Nordin, have been involved in a multi-team trade to start the new year.
The El Paso Rhinos acquired WSHL All-Time Goals leader, Urbanec, and Vegas’ second highest scoring defenseman, Nordin, as the arms race for the Thorne Cup commences. In return, Vegas receives Mikhail Gerasin and Austen Kerridge plus cash considerations.
Urbanec’s point streak stretches back eight games and has accumulated 13-points in that window. Of note, Urbanec is 16-points away from 351 career regular season points which will tie Jakob Kranabetter for the WSHL All-Time Points Record.
Nordin is proving to be a reliable two-way defender who is quick to adapt to situations and versatile in nature having transitioned from forward last season. Nordin has the second most assists as a defender on the Thunderbirds roster—after Juvas—and will be a nice fit to the higher scoring Rhinos squad.
(Photo by Manny Brizuela, WSHL)
Juvas and Svartbro were dealt to the Ogden Mustangs giving them the addition of a skilled first year scorer in Svartbro, and a puck-moving defensemen in Juvas. In return, Las Vegas acquired forward Gleb Shlyaiger and cash considerations. Shlyaiger is in his first year in the WSHL and has managed 10-points in 29 games.
Juvas has 11-points in his last six games and is the highest scoring defenseman on the roster while Svartbro has seven points in his last six games and is the second leading scorer for Vegas.
(Photo of Svartbro by Manny Brizuela, WSHL)
Urbanec, Juvas, and Nordin share a special connection as they were teammates in the final season of the Long Beach Bombers prior to relocation. The three players were moved to Las Vegas, but will now venture on separate paths with the same goal in mind—a Thorne Cup Title.
