Nickel Barons prepare for Sept. 3 season opener

Despite not hitting the ice again until Aug. 21, the Sudbury Nickel Barons have been far from inactive.

Former players moving along have included forwards Giovanni Foschia and Ryan Punkari, both traded to the Hamilton Red Wings of the OJHL (Ontario Junior Hockey League).

Goaltender and SMHA (Sudbury Minor Hockey Association) product Andrew Lefebvre has been shipped off to the Elmira Sugar Kings of the GOJHL (Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League), apparently with plans to attend a post-secondary institution in the area.

Filling some of the void, the Nickel Barons will welcome home former Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves team captain Jacob Bonin, acquired from the Mattawa Blackhawks after spending the 2013-2014 moving between the Aurora Tigers, Drumheller Dragons and Melfort Mustangs.

The local NOJHL crew have also acquired forward Christopher Rossi, a Garson native who signed on with the Winchester Hawks of the Eastern Ontario Junior League last year.

Team owner Mike Mooney has also picked up Davis Gadjovich from the Lindsay Muskies, with the 18-year-old heading to Laurentian University in the fall, as well as forward Lucas Toth, a graduate of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens Midget AAA program.

Closer to home, the Barons have signed forward Bradley Sutton, who chalked up seven goals and 15 assists in 24 games with the Nickel Caps last year, as well as Lively native Danny Lepage from Hoosac Prep School in upstate New York.

The Sudbury Nickel Barons open training camp on Thursday, Aug. 21st at the Tom Davies Community Centre, kicking off the 2014-2015 campaign at home on Sept. 3, welcoming Mattawa to the McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff.