67’s acquire Owen Stewart from the London Knights

Owen Stewart pictured as a Kitchener Rangers from the 2011-12 OHL season

The Ottawa 67’s have acquired 17-year old defenseman Owen Stewart from the London Knights in exchange for a 15th round draft pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection

Stewart, a native of Greely, was drafted by the Kitchener Rangers in the 6th round in 2011.  He played 33 games with the Rangers last season and had 2 goals and an assist.  The London Knights claimed Stewart off the waivers in September.  He only played three games with the team and did not register any points.

“I’ve always liked his potential,” Knights GM Mark Hunter told the London Free Press in September. “He can skate, he’s big and he’s got to learn some of the finer points defensively, but hopefully the coaches get him going."

Stewart has been described as a “big but mobile defenceman capable of jumping on the rush. He has good hands, a hard shot and shows good composure with the puck” (Kitchener Ranger bio). He even recorded his first goal against the Ottawa 67’s on October 14, 2012.

The acquisition of Stewart fills a much needed void on the young and depleted 67’s blueline.  As head coach Chris Byrne explained in a media release, “With injuries to our defencemen over the past month, we needed help on our blueline.  Owen brings a big body who skates well and has experience in our league.”

Taylor Davis was sidelined the last 2 games with a concussion after taking a puck to the face.  Adrian Sloboda missed the last 4 games after being hit into the boards awkwardly.  He should be back within the next week.  The worst injury of them all is veteran defenseman Michael Vlajkov who is expected to miss the remainder of the season after it was found that the tear in his labrum was more serious than they thought.

The less important stuff

• Stewart will have to find a new number.  He wore #7 with Knights but that number is retired (Doug Wilson and Denis Potvin).  He also wore #6 with the Rangers, but Jonathan Duchesne is currently wearing that number.
• Stewart played two seasons with the Gloucester Rangers in the CCHL.  In 2009-10, 67’s alumnus Remy Giftopolous was on the team.  In 2010-11, current netminder Jacob Blair played two games with the team.

You can follow Owen Stewart on twitter at @OwenStewy6.

 

The 67’s return to action against the Petes on Thursday, September 24^th at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.