Gord Dineen was the first player to hoist the Turner Cup each time the Denver/Utah Grizzlies hockey franchise won the IHL championship. If the Grizzlies win the title this season, they will do it without him.
    Utah traded the 37-year-old defenseman to the Chicago Wolves just before the IHL deadline Thursday for forward Sean Berens and defensemen Taj Melson and Brendan Buckley. Grizzlies Coach-General Manager Bob Bourne then traded Berens, forward Joe Frederick and goalie Ian Gordon to Cleveland for goalie Rick Tabaracci and defenseman Ted Crowley.
    "At one time, I thought there was no way I could trade Gord," Bourne said. "But I kept looking at our roster and I knew I may have to. The way it worked out, everything hinged on Gord. It killed me to trade him. Gord was instrumental in getting me here as a coach. I almost feel like I am stabbing him in the back."
    Bourne said the Wolves had wanted Dineen for some time, and that he was getting too much in return to not make the deal. If some hockey people believe Dineen should turn to coaching, Chicago General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is not among them. "Our management team sat down and looked at what this team needed. Our pipe dream was to get Gord Dineen," said Cheveldayoff, an assistant coach when the Grizzlies won the two championships. "It was an emotional trade for Gord, for Bob and for me."
    Dineen wanted to finish his career in Utah. Cheveldayoff was aware of that wish.
    "I told Gordo, 'You don't know how tough it was for me to take you in a trade from the Grizzlies.' I told him I wear my rings from my championships in Utah and in Chicago with equal pride. I told him I hoped that come June, I would be asking for his ring size once again," Cheveldayoff said. "You can't believe the amount of respect I have for Gord. I saw what he brought to the locker room on those teams, which eventually won the championship."
    Dineen was a fan favorite. The Grizzlies even gave away Gord Dineen "bammer bears" as a promotion this season. The trophy annually awarded to the team's best defenseman bears his name; Dineen has won it three times in five years.
    The other two departing Utah players also were popular with fans and teammates. Frederick's play was limited this season by a concussion. Gordon became the only Grizzlies goalie to post back-to-back shutouts, less than a month ago.
    Also Thursday, the Grizzlies acquired defenseman Kyle Kos from the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL. Kos had been playing in Detroit (IHL). Melson has been playing for the Grizzlies on loan from Chicago. The Grizzlies now own his rights.
    The Grizzlies sacrificed only one of the talented forwards Bourne believes will carry his team to the IHL finals. Bourne did not like giving up the players, especially Dineen, but he believes the addition of Crowley and Kos, along with obtaining the rights to Melson and Zarley Zalapski's return from the Philadelphia Flyers, could be the answer to the team's recent defensive problems.
    "The way our defense has been depleted, I had to find a way to get at least two defenseman. Now, I have four," Bourne said. "Crowley is a real sleeper to me. I needed somebody to anchor the power play and he could be it." Of Crowley's nine goals this season, six have come on the power play.
    Tabaracci comes to Utah with 286 games of NHL experience. He started the season assigned to Orlando by Atlanta of the NHL, but was traded to the Colorado Avalanche and assigned to Cleveland. Tabaracci is 16-11-4 in the IHL this year with a 2.70 goals-against average and .906 save percentage.
    "To have Taber and Corey Hirsch is a dream situation for a coach," Bourne said. "Hirsch has put too much pressure on himself and Tabaracci is one of the best. Goaltending is what wins you championships."
    Tabaracci may join the Grizzlies for tonight's game at Orlando. With Gordon traded and Hirsch gone to be with his wife for the birth of their child, Chad Alban has been called up.