Five months ago, Estevan native Alex Von Sprecken was celebrating an SJHL title in his hometown with his hometown team. The 20-year-old defenceman is joining the maroon and white after an Estevan/Flin Flon trade.
Von Sprecken was traded, along with the rights to 2004-born forward Jeremy Fortin, to the Bombers Oct. 4 in exchange for a player development fee and the CJHL playing rights to Saskatoon Blades defenceman Marek Schneider.
Von Sprecken had 19 points and 130 penalty minutes in 48 games last season for the Bruins - so far this season, Von Sprecken had played six games for Estevan, scoring two goals and adding an assist and 18 penalty minutes. A physical, smooth-skating defenceman, Von Sprecken started this season as an assistant captain with the Bruins.
A fan favourite for the Bruins who had been a part of the team since 2019, Von Sprecken played 103 regular season games for the Bruins and 18 playoff matchups, seven of which were against the Bombers in last year's league final. In that series, Von Sprecken had two assists and racked up 24 penalty minutes, including a pair of misconducts in the Bruins' 7-1 and 6-1 losses at the Whitney Forum.
“Alex is a player that we’re very familiar with after playing him in the league final last season. His experience and style of play was exactly what we were looking for," said Bomber head coach and general manager Mike Reagan.
"We believe he will be a great Bomber and our fans will love the way he plays.”
Along with Von Sprecken comes the rights to Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec native Fortin, a 5-foot-6, 161-pound centre who made the Bruins out of camp this year, scoring one goal in four games. It is unknown if Fortin will factor immediately onto the Bombers' roster.
Schneider is a long-time Bomber prospect who has found success with the WHL's Saskatoon Blades, where the Prince Albert, Sask. native is playing his third season. Schneider played a pair of games with the Bombers in 2020 as an affiliated player and one more as a WHL loanee from the Blades in the COVID-19-stunted 2020-21 season. In three games this year with the Blades, Schneider has a goal and an assist.
Including Von Sprecken, the Bombers currently sit at 27 players on their roster - 17 forwards, nine defenders and two goalies. Von Sprecken's addition also means the Bombers have nine 20-year-old players, including defenders Lucas Fry, Cory King and Reece Richmond and forwards Ethan Anstey, Cole Duperreault, Kaden Kohle, Jaxon Martens and Jaeden Mercier.
