Winger Dakota Conroy didn't get crunched between the boards, but by the numbers.
The Victoria Royals dealt the six-foot-one, 18-year-old native of Edmonton to the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday for a seventhround draft pick in the 2014 Western Hockey League bantam draft.
"We were carrying too many forwards," said Royals GM Cameron Hope.
"Prince Albert expressed interest and Dakota will have a better chance to play there."
Conroy and defenceman Jordan Fransoo came to Victoria from Brandon last January in the deal that sent former Royals forward Kevin Sundher to the Wheat Kings. Conroy responded with seven goals and 11 points in 34 regular-season and playoff games for the Royals in 2011-12.
Conroy was held pointless in his lone 2012-13 regular-season game for the Royals.
The Royals shed a forward but the blueline and crease also remains crowded. Victoria (2-0) now has 25 players - 13 forwards, nine defencemen, three goaltenders - on the roster as it prepares to take on the Kamloops Blazers (2-0) Friday and Sunday at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
GIANTS DEAL FOR 20-YEAR-OLD
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Giants acquired 20-year-old winger Trevor Cheek from the Calgary Hitmen for a fourth-round WHL draft pick in 2013 and a fifth-round pick in 2014.
Cheek, a six-foot-two, 198-pound native of Vancouver, Washington, had 23 goals and 49 assists in 67 games with the Hitmen last season.
