Today at 10PM marks the MHL trade deadline. The Commandos remained quiet on deadline day after acquiring defenseman Jeff Krichew from Amherst yesterday as well as welcoming back goaltender Alexandre St-Arnaud after finding himself the odd man out in Val d'Or. JF Damphousse is content to "let the kids play", allowing his still young lineup to gain valuable experience while setting the table up for what should be a powerful squad next season.
The epicenter for today's action was in Summerside, where the revolving door was open much of the day. Out are defenseman Dale Deon to Whitecourt of the AJHL and center Justin Thomas to the Metro Marauders (as well as that all-to-familiar Jr.A trading chip called "future considerations"). Coming into the fold are former Metro winger JP Harvey, gritty forward Luke Warner from Bridgewater and defenseman Michael Crocock from the Pembroke Lumber Kings. Certainly, the three acquisitions bring their own dimension to Summerside's lineup. Harvey possesses a solid set of wheels and a pretty wicked release. Warner's not going to get you 30 goals, but he'll make his new team seem that much bigger and create that much more real estate on the ice with his strong, steady physical presence. Meanwhile, Crocock brings a reputation as an effective two way man on the blueline with 12 points in 37 games with the Lumber Kings, where he was named to one of the defense slots for Team Canada East at this fall's World Jr.A Challenge in Yarmouth, where he was guided in part by former Pembroke bench boss - and Canada East assistant - Sheldon Keefe. As if Jr.A hockey wasn't already interesting enough on the island this season, things just got that much more intriguing for Billy and Co. It all adds up to possibly the most eventful second half in MHL history.
The Caps will get plenty of time to test out the new lineup early as they face off in Campbellton tomorrow night against the Tigers at 7:30 before heading back home to tackle recent trading partners, the Metro Shipbuilders on Saturday night at 7.
In Truro, the upcoming Fred Page Cup hosts received a boost with the acquisition of Mitchell Robillard from St-Leonard of the QJAAAHL. The 19 year old forward from St-Eustache, Quebec has been an offensive presence with 70 points in 72 games over the past two seasons with St-Leonard. For good measure, Robillard accounted for three goals in nine games with the Blaineville-Boisbriand Armada this season and his resume also includes a previous stint with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The presence of the latest Bearcats import will hopefully add balance to a Truro team known mostly for their defensive prowess.
Meanwhile in New Glasgow, the Pictou County Weeks Crushers just upped their level of competitiveness by being the most recent recipient of a major junior player caught in the unfortunate numbers game. Wildcats winger Mitch Deruelle cleared waivers in the QMJHL yesterday and has been reassigned to the MHL. For the 19 year old Deruelle, he goes back to the team he averaged roughly a point per game with over the past two seasons. Had it been any other year, Deruelle would've remained a Cat. For that matter, the fact he was waived through the league leads me to believe that was almost by design as the New Waterford native can clearly play at the major junior level. The numbers game, combined with ties to the Crushers organization gives Pictou County not only a much needed boost to offense, particularly after the trade of Brennan Saulnier to Woodstock, but a surefire top end 20 year old player next year.
In Halifax, the Flyers are off to a fast start at the East Coast Ice Jam tournament. They started their day with a 3-1 victory over Rothesay Netherwood. Commandos affiliate Michael Poirier broke the ice for the Flyers in the second period, while current Wildcats and Western Capitals property Alex Bradley collected two points in the win. As of this writing, Moncton leads the Valley Wildcats 5-4 as that contest reaches it's latter stages. This has the makings of perhaps the marquee matchup of the round robin portion of the tournament, as Moncton defeated Valley 3-2 in OT on November 18 to capture their first Monctonian tournament win since 1984. The Flyers cap off their round robin tomorrow as they face off against Cape Breton West at 11:30AM.
Back home, the Cats take on Gatineau Saturday at 7, UdeM plays back to back home games against Acadia and Dalhousie tomorrow and Saturday respectively, while the Commandos, after hitting the road to Woodstock tomorrow night, head back home to face Metro Sunday at 2:30. Stay tuned; this weekend, just like any other, should be a great one for hockey in Greater Moncton.
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