Update On Brody Todd

Appears that he is on his way to the Soo.

Peter Ruicci article in The Sault Star, Todd reporting to Hounds following collective sales pitch to winger (emphasis added):

The Soo Greyhounds breathed a collective sigh of relief Tuesday, upon learning newly-acquired Brody Todd had decided to report to the Ontario Hockey League team.

Todd, an overage winger acquired in a four-player trade with the Ottawa 67s Monday, had originally expressed concerns over his education.

The 20-year-old, a native of Thorold, Ont., had been taking geography and environmental studies courses at Ottawa’s Carleton University.

The environmental studies course is unique, non-transferable and not offered by Algoma University College, Sault College or Lake Superior State University in the Michigan Sault.

Still, the six-foot-two, 225-pounder, who is expected in the Sault today and is scheduled to practice with the Hounds for the first time this afternoon, chose to report.

"Obviously we’re happy about his decision," said Hounds’ general manager Dave Torrie, who dealt overage defenceman Brad Staubitz and 18-year-old winger Jamie VanderVeeken to Ottawa for Todd and 17-year-old defenceman Tyson Aitcheson. "We understand his educational concerns and I want to publicly thank Jerry Bumbacco for all of the time he spent working on this and talking to both the player and his parents."

Bumbacco is the Hounds’ educational consultant.

"Jerry explained all of Brody’s options to him and what we’re prepared to do to help him in any way we can," Torrie continued. "He (Todd) made it clear his hesitation had nothing to to [sic] with the Soo Greyhounds or the city of Sault Ste. Marie. It was all about his schooling."

Torrie, who spoke to Todd Tuesday, says the player is excited about coming here. The Hounds had a number of their veteran players contact Todd, who had eight goals and eight assists in 32 games for the 67s, to help convince him to report.

"We did what we could to let him know that we feel he can be an important part of the puzzle for us," added Torrie.

And Killer noted during an interview with The TEAM 1200/Dave Gross and Garry Galley this morning, that Todd had indeed packed up his stuff and departed for the Soo. Killer said that Todd was understandably upset because he has been playing so well over the last month, that he was concerned about the course he was taking at school, and that he really like the landfamily he was living with.

I wish him all the best. I hope that he continues to play well with his new Soo linemates. He’s going to be playing on a team with Jeff Carter, so he’ll get to hear all sorts of interesting World Junior stuff, I’m sure. Plus, the Greyhounds are a good team, and he won’t be the only newbie (Wharton and Aitcheson also going).