The league-leading Greater Sudbury Cubs added some new blood this month after making a couple of trades with the Elliot Lake Red Wings.
The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League squad has acquired former Wings captain Kaden Laverdiere and veteran defender Devin Shoreman, both in exchange for development fees. The team has also announced it has traded 20-year-old defenceman Carter Geoffroy to the St. Catherines Falcons of the GOJHL JR. B league in return for a development fee.
Laverdiere stands 6-1 and weighs in at 90.7 kg (200 lbs.). The centre was tied for second place in team scoring with the Red Wings, notching eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 30 games.
Laverdiere, 19, is from the Barrie area.
“We are very pleased to add a forward with Kaden’s size and strength to our line-up,” said Cubs GM Dave Clancy. “We were hoping to add a good faceoff man that is hard on pucks and plays a physical brand of hockey. We were also looking to add some veteran leadership to support our younger line-up and Kaden checks all of the boxes for us.”
Last week, the Cubs announced the acquisition of another Red Wing, veteran defenceman Devin Shoreman. Also 19, Shoreman stands 6-2 and weighs 86.7 kg (180 lbs). In his second NOJHL season, the left-handed defenceman from Barrie led Elliot Lake in defensive scoring this season with 18 points in 27 games.
“We are very excited to add Devin to our roster as he adds more depth to our blueline and he can play in all situations,” Clancy said in a news release. “We’ve had our eye on Devin since the beginning of the season and he has shown consistent improvement in his offensive numbers and his defensive play.”
Fans will get a chance to see the new players in action tonight when the Powassan Voodoos come to town for a 7:05 p.m. tilt at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex. Then the team hits the road for a Jan. 13 match in Elliot Lake, before returning to Sudbury to take on the French River Rapids on Jan. 19.
With a record of 29-5-2-0, the Cubs continue to lead the NOHJL with 60 points, followed by the Timmins Rock with 57 and the Hearst Lumberjacks with 56.
