The Alaska Aces traded their leading goal-scorer from last season for a big, experienced forward from the Kalamazoo Wings.
The Aces announced Tuesday they will send Justin Breton to Kalamazoo in exchange for Tyler Shattock.
Breton, a 6-1, 194-pound forward in his third year of pro hockey, led Alaska in goals last season with 23 in 66 games and ranked third in total points with 41.
His numbers this season are down by comparison — through 33 games, Breton has seven goals and 15 points.
"Justin's been here two-and-a-half years … and sometimes a guy gets stagnant in one place," Aces coach Rob Murray said. "… He's looking for a fresh start. He's grateful for the opportunity to go somewhere."
In return, the Aces get a player Murray tried to lure to Alaska a couple of years ago. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Shattock will bring size and a scoring touch to the Aces.
"He does have good size and he uses his size — he plays with an edge," Murray said. "… He competes every night and he's shown his ability to score at this level. He was a captain in Kalamazoo and has good leadership qualities. He might very well complement our team very well in a role like that.
A seven-year pro from Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Shattock served as an assistant captain at Kalamazoo this season and last season.
He has seven goals and 23 points in 37 games this season. In 422 career games in the ECHL and American Hockey League — he spent four seasons in the AHL from 2010-14, playing for the Peoria Rivermen, Evansville Icemen and Chicago Wolves — Shattock has tallied 67 goals and 188 points.
"His point totals are off this year too, so if he can recapture that and get going again, he could be a big factor this season."
Shattock will join the Aces (20-11-5) Thursday in Salt Lake City, where they begin a series with the Utah Grizzlies on Friday.
Murray said he might put Shattock on the team's top line with right wing Peter Sivak and center Stephen Perfetto. Danny Moynihan, who currently skates on that line, is a natural center who could move to the middle of another line if Shattock meshes with Sivak and Perfetto, Murray said.
Sivak to flash skills
Peter Sivak will participate in the "hardest shot" competition Wednesday during ECHL all-star festivities in Glens Falls, New York.
Sivak is the lone Alaska Aces player to make the all-star squad, which will play the Adirondack Thunder in Wednesday's game.
Also playing for the all-stars is Anchorage skater Tanner Sorenson, who plays for Kalamazoo and whose dad is Dimond High coach Dennis Sorenson.