The Tahoe Knight Monsters have announced their first trade in franchise history as they’ve acquired forward Cal Kiefiuk from the Wheeling Nailers in exchange for future considerations; this is also Wheeling’s first trade of the 2024-25 season. Kiefiuk had previously signed with the Nailers for the 2024-25 season after playing three games with the team at the end of the regular season and playing in one Kelly Cup Playoff game, he is still looking for his first career point. Heading into next season, I would expect Kiefiuk to be a bottom-six forward for the Knight Monsters as the season begins in a few weeks. He becomes the ninth forward and 16th signing for the Knight Monsters ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Prior to going pro, the 24-year-old forward spent three years in the USHL with the Bloomington Thunder and Central Ilinois Flying Aces, where he scored 37 goals and added 61 assists for 98 points in 162 games. He would lead the Flying Aces in goals (18) and assists (46) during the 2017-18 season. Kiefiuk then played four years at UMass, where he scored 24 goals and 33 assists for 57 points in 113 games. During his time with the Minutemen, they would win back-to-back Hockey East Championships in 2021 and 2022, including a National Championship in 2021. The Macomb, Michigan native would spend his final year of eligibility with Providence College, where he put up two goals and eight assists for ten points in 28 games before signing his pro contract with Wheeling in March.
