The Sudbury Wolves have traded away one of their more familiar faces, sending Matt Schmalz to Owen Sound for 19-year-old Liam Dunda.
Schmalz spent parts of four seasons in Sudbury after coming over in a trade with Kitchener in the 2012-13 season.
While there were rumours that he could be on the move, Schmalz didn't anticipate the deal.
"I was kind of shocked, but I kind of appreciate that I'm going to get a fresh start from my not so good season last year. So I'm extremely excited," said Schmalz.
He was given a few days notice about the trade but said all the talks he had with the coaching staff and management led him to believe he would be back in the Nickel city.
"They wanted me to be a big leader on the team and a big factor, but I think Owen Sound couldn't let go. So I think it kind of caught (Dave) Matsos and Barclay (Branch) off guard as well as it caught me off guard. I wasn't really going into Sudbury thinking I was going to get traded,” said Schmalz.
“I was really looking forward to playing in Sudbury and getting the train back on the tracks there. I guess Owen Sound really wanted me, so that's just the way hockey goes."
This was the second trade of his OHL career, but the first one that landed him in Sudbury was very early, just 24 games into his OHL journey.
The trades, in a way book end his career, and he has a very different perspective this time around.
"I didn't know the OHL very well. I really left it up to my agent to advise me into which way would be best for me and the best style. But now I've played four years, I know who plays where, who they are, who their coaches are and I can relay myself into the right direction," said Schmalz.
While the 6-6 overage forward struggled to find his footing early in the Ontario Hockey League he made strides in the 2014-15 season scoring 24 goals, 16 assists for 40 points.
That season led him to the NHL draft where there was a connection with Liam Dunda.
Schmalz was taken in the fifth round by Los Angeles and just a round later St. Louis selected Dunda.
Schmalz said he was aware that Owen Sound was pursuing him since the trade deadline last season and is welcoming that change of scenery.
He also hinted that it perhaps wasn’t working out too well with the Wolves.
"The player I'm trying to be and the leader I'm trying to be maybe set off some different feelings for the younger guys in Sudbury, but especially playing in the Western Conference, we're in a tough position in arguably the toughest division in the league. So that's going to really bring up my game, I think the move was definitely needed,” said Schmalz.
But still he looks at players like now former Wolves captain Danny Desrochers who played their whole career with one team and thought maybe that could be him.
"I was really looking forward to possibly being one of those players but sometimes that's just not the way hockey goes," said Schmalz.
His time in Sudbury however is something he will never forget.
"There were definitely ups and downs for sure, but I think that Sudbury is a fantastic place to live. The people there are unbelievable. I think in a couple years, if they get a new arena they're going to be a tough team to play against,” said Schmalz.
On the flip side the Wolves are getting a younger player in Liam Dunda who had 14 points in 64 games in Owen Sound last season.
He has also played in the post-season in each of the last three seasons.
In the trade Sudbury will get a conditional third round pick in 2018, while Owen Sound gets a conditional fourth round pick in 2017.
For Matt Schmalz, it won't be long before he gets a homecoming party, as Owen Sound makes their lone trip to Sudbury on Oct. 7.
