AMHERST – The Amherst CIBC Wood Gundy Ramblers have made a pair of trades as they prepare to open training camp later this month.
The Ramblers sent a first round pick in 2019 and a second round pick in 2020 as well as prospects Hunter Martin and Matthew Ellis and future considerations to the Campbellton Tigers for forward Casey Fox and two fifth-round picks.
The club also acquired 19-year-old forward Devin Sceles from the Tigers in a separate trade.
Fox, who has played in the Maritime Junior Hockey League with Summerside and St. Stephen, finished last season with the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
In 27 games with the Aces last year, Fox had 11 goals and 14 assists while he had three goals and four assists with the Wildcats and played 10 playoff games.
“He’s a player that we identified early on that could help us this season,” Ramblers coach and GM Jeff LeBlanc said. “He has played in this league and has experience playing in the Q with Moncton. He’s a speedy forward who brings a lot of grit to lineup.”
LeBlanc said that while he didn’t give up anything from the current roster to land Fox, he gave up a couple of prospects.
LeBlanc said the club was told at the MHL draft in June that Fox was available and talks have been progressing since then. He will be attending school in Moncton in the fall.
“Casey has good speed and isn’t afraid of the corners. He had a great season last year getting 25 points and 11 goals before Christmas,” LeBlanc said. “In the Q playoffs games I watched, he played very well, against very good players. He plays a 200-foot game and we are happy to have him.”
Sceles is from Moncton and came up through the minor hockey ranks to play Midget AAA with the Moncton Flyers. He also played a year of prep school hockey and before coming back to the Maritimes.
His rights were acquired by the Tigers from the Valley Wildcats last year, but he chose to attend St. Francis Xavier University and played junior B with the Strait Pirates of the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League.
LeBlanc said he is in talks with several free agents and is negotiating potential deals with other clubs.
“Every day our goal is to work to make this team better,” LeBlanc said. “We are talking to some free agents and hope to be in a position to make some more announcements leading up to the opening of training camp on the 25th.”
Twitter: @ADNdarrell
