TOP GOALIES, BIG SCORERS MOVED AT TRADE DEADLINE
High-scoring Max Routledge was traded from Mississauga to the Toronto Patriots on the OJHL trade deadline Wednesday. (Photo by Kevin Raposo / OJHL Images)
By Ron Valentine
High-end goaltenders and big-time scorers changed addresses across the Ontario Junior Hockey League Wednesday.
There was lots of off-ice action before the midnight trade deadline, as several teams, including some division leaders, looked to bolster their chances in this season's competitive OJHL.
Here are the details:
The TORONTO PATRIOTS – the top-ranked team in the OJHL – added two players from the Mississauga Chargers, both in their last season of eligibility. Forward MAX ROUTLEDGE has 43 points in 36 games and was their leading scorer at the time of the trade. Max played two games for the Patriots in the 2014-2015 season so it is a curtain call, in a way, for him. The second addition was the Chargers' top blueliner, KYLER MATTHEWS, who has recorded 23 points so far. This was his third season in Mississauga and he will effectively replace RYAN WELLS on the Patriots' defense – he was recalled by the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL.
The TRENTON GOLDEN HAWKS boosted their offence by obtaining veteran CHRIS KARABASSIS, who was in his second full season for the Mississauga and has 39 points in 36 games, including 18 goals. Before he became a Charger full-time he had one campaign with the Smiths Falls Bears of the CCHL. Going to the MISSISSAUGA CHARGERS from Trenton was blueliner CONOR CRUICKSHANK a 19-year old defenceman from Brampton. He spent three seasons playing for Millbrook high school in New York state.
The OAKVILLE BLADES moved 19-year-old local forward RYAN DERENZIS to the Ancaster Avalanche of the GOJHL. They picked up Wellington Dukes' 17-year-old forward ERIC UBA (22 pts. to date) who has a couple of appearances this season with the Flint Firebirds of he OHL. He was a standout member of the 2017 Schmalz Cup winning Jr. C. Ayr Centennials. The Blades sent veteran defenceman JOSH ANDERSON (ex-of the Burlington Cougars, Pelham Panthers and Cochrane Crunch) to the PICKERING PANTHERS. Pickering assigned forward MITCHELL GUSTAVSON to the Port Perry Mojacks of the PJHL and moved up TYLER GIAMOV from Port Perry.
The ORANGEVILLE FLYERS moved 18-year old forward BRANDON FISHER to the Brampton Bombers of the GOJHL.
The MARKHAM ROYALS obtained 18-year old blueliner JACK LYONS from the North York Rangers. A former Milton IceHawk and Toronto Patriot, he was in his second season as a Ranger. As well, the Royals picked up 21-year-old former Orangeville forward KOSTA LIKOUREZOS who has been most recently in the NAHL with the Bulls of Amarillo and the New Jersey Junior Titans. He spent two seasons as a Flyer, scoring 21 goals and 41 points in 2015-2016.
Russian-born former NORTH YORK RANGERS' defenceman FYODOR (FEDOR) RUDAKOV returns to North York after terms with the Kootenay Ice and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. He has one more season of junior eligibility remaining. As noted in last week's Week in Review, forward JOSH DAME is also back with the Rangers, from the OHL's Niagara IceDogs.
MATHIEU HEBERT, former New Jersey Rockets' blueliner, 17, is now a member of the COBOURG COUGARS. Cobourg also landed a last-year defenceman in CHRISTOPHER IZZO from the QJAAAHL's Montreal-Est Rangers. Izzo also played for the Saint-Leonard Arctic, Chambly Forts and Terrebonne Cobras in Quebec league.
It's off to the Surrey B.C. Eagles for GEORGETOWN RAIDERS' goaltender MARIO CAVALIERE. In return, the Raiders – the first place team in the OJHL West – receive forward DOMINIC DUMAS, born in Boise, Idaho. Cavaliere was in the top five in the OJHL in wins, goals-against average and save percentage. To replace Cavaliere, comes a goalie from the Erie Otters (and formerly Sudbury Wolves) of the OHL – Caledon's TROY TIMPANO. Like Cavaliere, Timpano is in his final season of Junior hockey. Prior to the deadline the Raiders inked blueliner MITCH LUZAR from the Junior Canadiens.
The KINGSTON VOYAGEURS added some youth to their blueline in 16-year-old EVAN BRAND from the OHL Frontenacs in the Limestone City.
The LINDSAY MUSKIES have a new goalie from Bridgton Academy in Maine- MAXIM CLOUSER, 17 as they sent veteran 'keeper TYLER RICHARDSON – the OJHL leader in saves – to the WELLINGTON DUKES.
The AURORA TIGERS moved forward ELI GORDON to the Stayner Siskins of the PJHL.
DANIEL HEELIS, a 19-year old blueliner, is now a member of the TORONTO JUNIOR CANADIENS, coming over from the GOJHL's Brampton Bombers. MICHAEL DISCHIAVI has been assigned from that club to the Welland Junior Canadiens.
