The Halifax Lions traded a pair of star forwards over the holidays to expedite their rebuilding effort.
The Lions dealt captain and leading scorer Chad Locke and his right-hand man, Jonathan McArthur, to contending teams in separate deals to acquire youth and draft picks.
Locke, a 20-year-old forward who had 23 goals and 26 assists for 49 points in 33 games, went to the Summerside Western Capitals for Gerrad Grant, Derek Larade, Kyle Mariani, fourth- and fifth-round picks and future considerations.
McArthur, a 20-year-old forward with 47 points in 34 games, went to the Truro Bearcats for goalie Kody Blois, 17.
The moves will likely make wins even harder to come by in the second half for the Lions, who are last in the Maurice Bent Division with a 6-26-5 record and 17 points.
