Flyers add three before deadline

By Matt Robinson/Valencia Flyers Junior A Hockey                                                        2/12/2014 15:00 EST

With the playoffs looming and the trade deadline ending Monday 2/10/2014 for the 2013-2014 season, the Valencia Flyers were very busy over the week leading up to the deadline, ultimately adding three players to an already deep roster.

Before last weekend’s excellent performance against Fresno, the Flyers were able to add two players via a trade with the Wichita Jr. Thunder in defenseman Jordan Grywacheski and forward Keegan Hull. The Flyers sent forwards Travis Wilson and David Min to Wichita in return. The Flyers also added forward Filip Andreason from Long Beach before the 

midnight deadline on Monday in return for future considerations.

Grywacheski, the Thunder’s captain this season, brings some size and grit to the Flyers defensive core. Listed at 6’4”, 215 lbs, Grywacheski is a solid defender who is tough in his own end and battles every shift. He is tough to move off the puck in the corners when battling and makes a strong first pass from within his zone. He is not flashy, but is a shutdown defenseman, something the Flyers will definitely need coming into the playoffs. He will most likely play alongside Sam Taferner, easily making the tandem the largest D pair on the Flyers roster.  Grywacheski’s steady style of play should certainly help Taferner, who is looked at as a puck moving defenseman, giving him a little of a safety net for the rest of the year.

Keegan Hull adds more speed and skill to an already deep forward pool for the Valencia Flyers. Look for him to be slotted in a second or third line role with Valencia, but he also has the capability to play first line minutes if needed due to injury. Hull is a skilled, big bodied forward, being listed at 6’0”, 190lbs. He has excellent hands and a quick release on his shot. He can make moves tight in the corners and really control the puck, while at the same time is not afraid to go to the front of the net and score in the dirty areas.

Andreason is another skilled big bodied forward that will further add depth to the Flyers forward corps. Listed at 6’2”, 190 lbs, Andreason figures to be slotted in a 3^rd line role, potentially with Wil Barnett and Adam Papayoanou. He would bring puck possession skill as well as more speed to the line, creating an all-around dangerous trifecta with Papayoanou as the goal scorer, Barnett as the physical net presence and Andreason as the setup man.

Over all, all three players will greatly help the Flyers as they push to the playoffs and try and make their first ever Thorne Cup appearance.

Matt Robinson is the Play-by-Play Voice of the Valencia Flyers. In addition, Matt also handles the Valencia Flyers Social Media accounts, produces stories and content for valenciaflyers.net and does Play-by-Play for College of the Canyons Ice Hockey.