By RICK MOORE
Times Herald Sports Editor
Maybe, just maybe, Cory Hintz's luck has finally changed.
The oft-injured three-year Western Hockey League veteran, still on the sidelines for about a month with a sprained knee, will be able to take a serious run for at a Memorial Cup when he finally does return to action.
Monday, just prior to the WHL's trade deadline, the Warriors shipped Hintz and netminder Rastislav Stana to the top-ranked Calgary Hitmen in exchange for 18-year old Swedish forward Anders Luvdahl and 17-year old rookie netminder Sean Connors.
While he admitted he's leaving Moose Jaw with mixed emotions, Hintz didn't have too much trouble finding the positive side of the deal.
"They're one of the best," Hintz said, moments after being informed of the deal by Warrior general manager Ralph Schmidt. "I got pretty lucky, I guess.
"I've got some buddies who play there and my brother goes to school there so I'm pretty happy about it."
Hintz said he wasn't expecting the move at all, mainly because of a recent knee injury which has him on the shelf for about another month. It's another in a series of injuries which have plagued Hintz throughout his career.
He missed half of his rookie campaign after a serious off-season car accident left him with a cracked and displaced vertebrae in his lower back.
Last season he suffered a serious groin injury at the tail-end of the season and missed all of this year's training camp and the first nine games of the regular season.
He appeared in just 27 games this year, scoring four times and setting up six others, before spraining his knee Dec. 29 in Portland.
"It's been pretty tough, with the injuries and stuff, but the last three years have still been great," Hintz said. "The coaching staff has been excellent, I've got a lot of buddies here and trainer Greg Mayer has been great. He's fixed me up a lot of times."
In his three seasons in Moose Jaw Hintz played 123 games, scoring 16 goals and adding 22 assists.
"Cory was hampered by injuries but he played hard for us and served us well," Schmidt said. "You never like to trade a guy when he's injured but I hope Cory and the public in general are not left with the impression that that's why we traded him.
"Calgary asked for him. They were looking for that type of player. He's going to a very good organization and he'll fit in."
Stana, who was in his second year with the Warriors, was still overseas when informed of the trade. He had yet to return from the world junior championships in Sweden.
He and fellow 19-year old netminder Tim Barlow shared the netminding chores the last two seasons. Last year Stana played in 36 games and compiled a goals against average of 3.46. He played in 14 games this year and had a 4.27 goals against average.
Connors, a 17-year old, 5'11", 145-pound rookie, played in 14 games with the Hitmen this season, posting an impressive 2.58 goals agianst average with one shutout.
Luvdahl, a 6'2", 200-pound left-winger, has five goals and nine assists in 36 games.
"Sean is a good goalie right now plus he's going to be a big part of our future," Schmidt said of Connors. "Anders is a big, skilled winger who skates well. He was playing a little down the line in Calgary because of their depth but he'll get more of a chance to play here.
"We were looking at not giving up on this year and at the same time building for the future," he added.
Both newcomers are expected in the lineup tonight when the Warriors host the red Deer Rebels.
taken from the Moose Jaw Times-Herald, Tuesday, January 11, 2000
Sean Connors
Goal 5'11" 150lbs
D.O.B. May 28/82
Hometown: Okotoks, AB
Draft Status: Eligible 2000
1998-1999 Club: UFA Bisons
Anders Luvdahl
Forward 6'4" 210lbs
D.O.B. Feb 4/81
Hometown: Borlange, SWD
Draft Status: Colorado ‘99
1998-1999 Club: HV 7 1
