Muskegon makes trade with Buccaneers

The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced today they have acquired University of Minnesota blueline recruit Mike Brodzinski and a first-round selection in the 2012 USHL Entry Draft from the Des Moines Buccaneers in exchange for defenseman Nick Seeler.

The Lumberjacks will also receive future considerations from the Buccaneers in the deal, which adds assets as well as alleviates a potential logjam on the blueline.

“This is a great trade for both teams,” said Lumberjacks head coach Jim McKenzie. “With eight healthy defensemen, this opens up a spot and also helps us into the future. Brodzinski and the first-round pick we received should both be big for us.”

Brodzinski (pictured), who verbally committed to Minnesota last fall, was Des Moines’ first-round selection (seventh overall) in last summer’s USHL Futures Draft. The junior defenseman at Blaine (Minn.) High School has a team-leading 23 points this season and has maintained a point-per-game pace over the last two years. Brodzinski led Blaine in playoff scoring last spring as a sophomore.

The 5-foot-11 blueline prospect also competed in last summer’s Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Ann Arbor. As part of the U.S. Select Team that won gold, Brodzinski displayed “a very athletic frame and…a great shot from the point,” according to unitedstatesofhockey.com. He will be eligible for the NHL Entry Draft in 2013.

Seeler totaled 15 points (two goals) in 32 games for the Lumberjacks in his first USHL season. He has committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha and was a 2011 fifth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild.

“Nick is a great young man and he’ll be a great player in college, and in the professional ranks down the road,” McKenzie said. “We want to thank Nick for his hard work and great attitude and we wish him well with his new team.”

Also as part of the deal, Des Moines acquired Muskegon affiliate list players Garrett Cockerill and Matej Paulovic, neither of whom has played a USHL game this season. Cockerill skated in two games for last year’s Lumberjacks.