PHOTO: GARRETT JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY
Salmon Arm B.C. — The Salmon Arm Silverbacks are excited to announce the acquisition of 18-year-old forward Brandon Santa Juana from the Powell River Kings in exchange for forwards Braden Fischer and Philippe Jacques. Santa Juana was traded to Powell River from the Surrey Eagles earlier this off-season to complete a previous futures deal between those clubs.
Santa Juana, from Langley, B.C., will be entering his fourth BC Hockey League season and has registered 35 goals and 49 assists for 84 points in 127 career games thus far. He finished in the top-20 in BCHL scoring and ranked third on the Eagles this past pod season with 22 points (9G, 13A) in 18 games.
“It’s never easy making a trade and moving great kids like Braden and Philippe, but adding a veteran player with three years of BCHL experience was a piece that was needed for our roster,” Silverbacks general manager Brooks Christensen said. “We are excited to add Brandon and believe he will be a great addition as a leader on the ice and in our community. I’d like to thank both Braden and Philippe for all their dedication and hard work this past season. Powell River is getting two players that I have no doubt will make an impact on and off the ice.”
Santa Juana debuted in the BCHL as a 16-year-old in the 2018-19 season, scoring 12 goals and adding 10 assists for 22 points in 53 games. In the 2019-20 season, the left-winger improved to 40 points (14G, 26A) in 56 games, before taking another step forward in the pod with 22 points in 18 games. His 17 even-strength points this past season were more than any other Surrey Eagle. The speedster comes to the Silverbacks with an NCAA scholarship to the University of Connecticut.
Fischer was traded to Salmon Arm last off-season from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Winnipeg Blues and had two points in 16 games in the pod season, while Jacques had five points in 17 games.
The Silverbacks would like to welcome Brandon to Salmon Arm and thank both Braden and Philippe for their contributions to the Silverbacks last season.
