By Matt Stefano
With the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season only three days away, the Soo Thunderbirds have announced on Tuesday that they have completed a two-player trade with the MJHL’s Truro Bearcats.
In the trade, the Thunderbirds have sent veteran forward Kelsey Ouellet to the MJHL’s Truro Bearcats in exchange for 2003-birth-year defenceman Timothy Poter and a player development fee.
Porter, who stands 6’2 and weighs 180 pounds, spent last season with the MJHL’s Truro Bearcats, where he had 1 goal and 3 helpers in 30 regular season games, before tallying 1 goal in 15 games during the 2022 Canadian Tire Cup Playoffs.
Last season, the 19-year-old defenceman also helped lead the Bearcats all the way to the MJHL final, where they lost in five games to the Summerside Western Capitals.
Ouellet, who was traded to the MJHL’s Bearcats, finished fourth in Thunderbird scoring last season with 16 goals and 41 points in 48 regular season games.
Ouellet also led all Thunderbird players in empty net goals last season with 3.
“Kelsey was a tremendous player last season and he will be missed on and off the ice,” said Soo Thunderbirds assistant coach and general manager Jamie Henderson. “He was seeking a new opportunity and challenge and we wish him all the best in Truro.”
NOTE
After acquiring defenceman Timothy Porter from the MJHL’s Truro Bearcats on Tuesday, the Thunderbirds then announced on the same day (Tuesday) that they ended up dealing Timothy Porter to the Edmundston Blizzard in exchange for a player development fee.
