Cents Make Room for Shinkaruk, Deal Dustin Lebrun to Sherwood Park

If you haven't heard about it already, a very popular Centennial is headed to Alberta. With the addition of Carter Shinkaruk from Powell River, 3rd line forward Dustin Lebrun, who has showed flashes of brilliance through his one and a half years in Merritt, is the unfortunate odd man out. He has been sent to the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL in exchange for future considerations (either a player after this season or cash).

After a promising rookie campaign that involved 11 goals (many of them early) last season, this season Dustin has struggled to find his groove, with just 5 goals and 5 assists through 38 games. But he is a guy who, night in and night out, brings it. His emotion and dedication is unmatched by many. He's got good speed and a wicked shot; a shot which unfortunately far too often went wide, got blocked, or didn't find the targeted corner of the net. But the way Dustin plays, every game it seems like he could break out any minute. Hopefully he finds the success he's looking for with Sherwood Park, joining former Cent Steven Wall as well (though I believe Wall has been injured since early this season). The Crusaders are having a great season with a record of 37-23-0-4, but sit 5th out of 8 teams in a very competitive North Division. It's worth noting that if the future considerations coming back to Merritt are financial, then Lebrun would first have to clear waivers in the BCHL before the trade to Sherwood Park could be processed.

Dustin has been a very well-liked individual in his time in Merritt. He's a true "good guy". He's been through many highs and lows, gone through tough stretches of being scratched, but never seems phased by what's happening, always has a smile on his face and a joke to share. He's very approachable, friendly, and respectful, as I'm sure his billets, and many of the team's fans who have met him could attest to. Last year as a rookie, Dustin would often sit behind me on the bus, so I've had many chats with him, this year as well, and he is just a fun guy to be around. I also had a chance to meet his parents this season, who seemed like great people. And so in a situation like this, it's always tough to see a guy go, especially when you feel you know them quite well. I know many Cents fans will miss having him around, so on behalf of everyone in Merritt, I'd like to wish Dustin all the best in Sherwood Park. And him being from Coquitlam, perhaps we can see him back in the BCHL if not this year, then next, to play once again in front of his friends and family.

So there was quite a flurry of activity at the deadline, including Penticton adding the 4th leading scorer in the league, Wade Murphy, Prince George adding an above point a game player in Jarryd Ten Vaanholt, and Chilliwack adding a solid secondary scorer in Kody Dhaliwal. It seems like every team in the Interior playoff picture has made significant moves to try and give themselves an advantage over each other, but Merritt was easily the quietest team at the deadline.

To break it down: Merritt loses a 19 year old forward with 5 goals and 5 assists, and gains a 20 year old forward with 8 goals and 5 assists... so they're losing a year, but gaining 3 goals. That's the simple way of looking at it. We'll see how it all pans out, but clearly Luke Pierce feels like his club should be rewarded for their remarkable 2/3 of a season so far, and hopefully it will pay off and again make the trading deadline seem overrated come playoff time.