The Shadow
ROANOKE, Va. (VR) – The Rail Yard Dawgs announced on Monday that defenseman Tim Gould has been traded to the Quad City Storm in exchange for the rights to forward Trey Fechko. The SPHL has suspended C.J. Valerian for four games following a major penalty and game misconduct for elbowing at 8:12 of the third period in Saturday’s matchup against the Quad City Storm. Valerian has also been called up to the ECHL’s New Mexico Goatheads. He will serve his four-game suspension following his return from the ECHL.
Gould signed with the Dawgs in March 2025. Gould recorded one goal and two assists during his rookie season. The six-foot defenseman scored his first professional goal in his debut against the Fayetteville Marksmen on March 12, 2025. So far this season Gould has appeared in all five games and has recorded two penalty minutes.
Fechko joined the Athens Rock Lobsters in July 2026 before earning a training camp player tryout contract with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets. He came just short of securing a spot on the Komets’ Opening Night roster. The six-foot-one forward opened the 2025-2026 season with Roanoke, posting three goals and five assists with four penalty minutes in 12 games. Following a January 2026 trade to the Fayetteville Marksmen, Fechko recorded nine goals and seven assists with 10 penalty minutes in 15 games.
Valerian is in his sixth season with the Dawgs. The six-foot-two defenseman is tied with Ryan Mahlmeister for the team lead in points with four. So far this season, Valerian has appeared in all 5 games for the Dawgs, recording four assists and 41 penalty minutes. Last season the 31-year-old defenseman recorded four goals, seven assists, 42 penalty minutes, and a plus-five rating in 26 appearances for Roanoke. Valerian also added two assists and 16 penalty minutes in six games during the Dawgs 2025-2026 Presidents Cup playoff run.
The Dawgs return to action on Thursday, November 5, for a school-day morning game against Fayetteville inside Crown Coliseum, with puck drop scheduled for 10:00 A.M. The Dawgs are back home on Friday, November 6, to host the Pensacola Ice Flyers for Stick It to Cancer Night, sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
