Chiefs trade their leading scorer, Adam Helewka, to Red Deer

The Spokane Chiefs, in the thick of the Western Hockey League’s U.S. Division race, traded leading scorer Adam Helewka to the Red Deer Rebels on Friday for two players and draft picks.

The Chiefs acquired Wyatt Johnson and Eli Zummack plus two Bantam Draft picks – a second-round selection in 2016 and a fifth-round pick in 2017.

“We feel this trade works well for our organization this year and also helps to build for our future,” Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said in a statement released by the team.. “Wyatt Johnson is a good leader, exemplified by his role as the Red Deer Rebels’ captain. He will contribute offensively and his drive and competitiveness will help our team in a very tough Western Conference and U.S. Division.”

Johnson, 20, a 6-foot, 185-pound center from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, had nine goals and 17 assists in 38 games this season. In 226 WHL games, he has 58 goals and 73 assists.

Zummack, a 15-year old forward from Kelowna, British Columbia, was a second-round pick in the 2015 Bantam Draft. Zummack, 5-9 and 165 pounds, has played this season with the major midget Okanagan Rockets. He was a first-team all-star at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup in October.

Helewka, a 20-year-old forward from Burnaby, British Columbia, had a team-leading 16 goals along with 13 assists in 19 games since returning from an ATO (Amateur Tryout Contract) with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League. He was third in points for the Chiefs with 29 and first in plus-minus at plus-16.

He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the fourth round, 106th overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

In 210 games with the Chiefs, Helewka scored 93 goals and 100 assists.

After 37 games, the Chiefs are in third place in the U.S. Division, a point behind Seattle and two behind Everett.