Sawyer Mynio. (Image Credit: Brian Liesse/Seattle Thunderbirds)

By Victor Kaisar

Mynio Traded

Hitmen acquire Kamloops native Sawyer Mynio from Seattle in blockbuster trade

Jan 4, 2025 | 12:06 PM

SEATTLE — The Seattle Thunderbirds have traded Kamloops native Sawyer Mynio to the Calgary Hitmen for two players and four draft picks.

The Thunderbirds get Salmon Arm native Sawyer Mayes, a forward, and defenceman Linden Burrett, as well as first and fourth round picks in both 2025 and 2026.

The 19-year-old Mynio, who had an assist in three games with Canada at the ongoing World Juniors, will add to the Hitmen’s blueline as they gear up for what they hope will be a long playoff run.

“We have acquired one of the top defenceman in the Western Hockey League who contributes a vast amount of experience both in the regular season, playoffs, and internationally,” Hitmen General Manager Garry Davidson said of Mynio.

“Sawyer will be a critical piece in our second half drive and in our pursuit of a playoff run.”

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A Vancouver Canucks prospect, Mynio ends his Thunderbirds career with 30 goals and 114 points in 196 regular season games over four seasons. He was serving as co-captain and had five goals and 19 points in 18 games this season.

Mynio was part of the T-Birds for their two lengthy post season runs that culminated in defeat to Edmonton in the WHL Championship in 2021-22, and a WHL title and second place finish at the Memorial Cup in 2022-23.

“It is very difficult to make a trade of this magnitude,” T-Birds General Manager Bil La Forge. said, in a release. “Sawyer has been a model Thunderbird throughout his time with us [but] this move fills some of the holes we have in terms of draft picks.”

Mayes, who turns 18 on Wednesday, played parts of three seasons with the U15 to the U18 Thompson Blazers before joining the Hitmen in 2022-23. He has five goals and 14 points in 86 career WHL games, with three goals and six points coming this season.

“Mayes is a player that we have liked since his draft year and was an essential part of the deal for us,” La Forge added. “Linden is another right shot D man that continues to add to our depth on the back end.”

Mynio could make his Hitmen debut on Sunday when Calgary hosts the Regina Pats at the Scotiabank Saddledome. As the Kamloops Blazers have already played Calgary this season, Mynio won’t get to play his hometown WHL team as a member of the Hitmen.

The Hitmen currently have the best winning percentage in the WHL’s Eastern Conference at .629, though they are locked in a three-way tie with the Saskatoon Blades and the Medicine Hat Tigers, who all have 44 points.

Just five points separate the top eight teams in the East as of publishing.

The Thunderbirds meanwhile are in the basement of the Western Conference with 27 points from 37 games.