AMHERST – The Amherst CIBC Wood Gundy Ramblers should have some more offence on Saturday when they face the Bridgewater Lumberjacks in Maritime Junior Hockey League action.
The Ramblers acquired centre Jacob Conrad from the Lumberjacks on Thursday in a deal that sees two current players, the rights to two players from the Moncton Wildcats and two junior B players going the other way.
“He’ll definitely add some scoring to our lineup. He’s a complete hockey player,” Ramblers’ coach Jim Bottomley said. “His major junior experience will be a big bonus for us going down the stretch.”
Conrad will make his debut with the Ramblers against his former team on Saturday. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Amherst Stadium.
Defenceman Brennan Forgeron and forward Jesse MacInnis are going the other way along with future considerations and the rights to both Ryan Penny and Brayden Wood of the Moncton Wildcats. Wood was acquired from Woodstock along with Danny Harquail in the November deal that sent Dylan Brake to the Slammers.
Conrad, who was one of the most sought players going into Thursday, comes to Amherst after two full seasons and part of a third with the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL.
The Bridgewater native and Lumberjacks’ captain has 32 points, including 14 goals and 18 assists in 27 games, this season.
MacInnis, who was the Ramblers top pick last season, has five goals and eight assists in 30 games this season, while Forgeron, picked up from the Weeks Crushers, earlier this season has no points in 17 games.
The Ramblers also surrendered the affiliation rights to forward Brett Arthur and Brandon Parker, who are both playing in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League.
Bottomley said the price was high for Conrad, but it’s a move he had to make.
“In the last few days three teams in our division have made major moves to add players. He was someone other teams really wanted,” Bottomley said. “It wouldn’t be fair to our 20-year-olds, who are hoping to get a chance at it, to sit back and do nothing.”
In other league news, Mitch Deruelle has rejoined the Weeks Crushers after spending most of the last two seasons with the Moncton Wildcats, while Amherst native Luke Warner was traded to the Summerside Western Capitals for a third round pick in 2013 and future considerations.
Former Rambler J.P. Harvey was dealt from Metro to Summerside for Justin Thomas and future considerations and Summerside acquired Michael Crocock from the Pembroke Lumber Kings.
dcole@amherstdaily.com
