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KIJHL: Dynamiters sign Traichevich and Dugdale

Roster rounded out with signing of goaltender Mitchell Traichevich and forward Graham Dugdale
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Kimberley Dynamiters

The Kimberley Dynamiters roster was tweaked Thursday afternoon as the team prepares for the opening weekend of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season.

First, Dynamiters general manager Mike Reid shored up his goaltending situation with the signing Mitchell Traichevich (1997).

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound puck-stopper and native of Dawson Creek, B.C., comes to the Nitros after a camp tryout with the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

"When we were looking for a backup goalie this year, we were looking for an 18-year-old, we were looking for someone who was a bigger body just to give us a different look in practice," Reid said, "and basically, we were looking for someone who was on the verge of playing Junior 'A' and we could be a good vehicle for him to get to the next level."

In conjunction with the addition of Traichevich, the Dynamiters released goaltenders Cody Call (1997) and Jack Page (1997).

Coming out of training camp, Reid and the Dynamiters retained three goaltenders, including incumbent starter Tyson Brouwer (1995).

Up front, Reid announced the signing of 6-foot-2, 210-pound forward Graham Dugdale (1997).

A native of Vulcan, Alta., Dugdale had previously been in camp with the Melfort Mustangs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

"With our lineup the way it is now, we have a lot of interchangeable parts," Reid said. "There's no real designation [for Dugdale].

"We see Graham probably slotting in on the wing, but also as a right-handed shot and a big body, he is going to take a lot of draws for us, too. We see him being able to take a lot of critical face-offs."

Reid said one of Dugdale's most enticing attributes is his versatility within the lineup, meaning the burly winger could see playing time anywhere within the Nitros top-nine.

Dugdale spent 2014-15 with the Lethbridge Midget 'AAA' Hurricanes, posting two goals and three points in 31 games.

With the moves, the Dynamiters roster sits at 20 (two goaltenders, six defencemen, 12 forwards) heading into the regular season opener Friday night in Invermere against the Columbia Valley Rockies.

The Dynamiters host the Golden Rockets at 7 p.m. on Saturday night at the Kimberley Civic Centre.