Photo: Dan Hickling
Spruce Grove Saints General Manager Rob Sklaruk announced on Wednesday that the team acquired defenceman Jeppe Bertram (’07) and the rights to forward Luke Norcross (’07) from the Blackfalds Bulldogs in exchange for defenceman Kohyn Pipke (’07).
Bertram played in 5 games with Blackfalds to start the season, registering one assist. The 6’3″, 207-pound Esbjerg, Denmark product split time in his hometown with Esbjerg II and Esbjerg Energy. He scored 5 goals and 10 assists in 23 games with Esbjerg II. Bertram will join a familiar teammate with the Saints, Lucas Cilan, who represented Denmark together at the IIHF World Junior Championship last December.
Norcross currently plays for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL and has played 6 games this season. Last season, he recorded 3 goals and 7 assists in 43 games with the Buccaneers. He is a 6’0″ tall, 190-pound forward from Los Angeles, California. In the 2024-2025 season, Norcross played in 39 BCHL games with the Sherwood Park Crusaders and Blackfalds Bulldogs. In 33 games with Blackfalds, he scored 7 goals and 12 assists.
“This was a good hockey trade for both teams,” said Sklaruk. “We were able to add a player in Jeppe who we feel can come in and make an impact on our back end, while also acquiring the rights to Luke, who is a player we really like.”
Pipke played in 6 games for the Saints this season, recording 3 assists. Last season, he suited up in 43 games with the Saints, scoring 2 goals and 13 assists.
The Saints would like to welcome Jeppe and his family to Spruce Grove and the Saints organization.
The Saints are at home this weekend, welcoming the first two Coastal West teams into Thompson Family Arena with Powell River on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Victoria on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: https://tickets.sgsaints.ca/
