Of the three goaltenders that the Ottawa 67’s held onto
coming out of training camp, none of them are still with the team three months
later, as Jacob Blair is now awaiting a trade.
In a move that put Blair on the block, Ottawa acquired the
rights to London draft choice Connor Hughes.
“Extremely excited to be part of the (67’s),” Hughes took to
Twitter to say. “Can't wait to get
started up there.”
After training camp, surprise story Daniel Mannella
declined the invite to join the Barberpoles, preferring instead to go after
NCAA aspirations.
Clint Windsor, who came into the season as the expected
starter, was released and went to the Maritime A League before recording a
start as an OHL overager.
With Philippe Trudeau starting the last 18 games, and Blair
being pulled in two of his eight appearances this season, the writing was on
the wall that Blair wasn’t the starting goaltender of the future.
Without the ability to take goalies in the import draft, the
same route that saved the 67’s when they picked Petr Mrazek, it’s likely that
another trade for a goalie will have to happen this summer.
In the 2013 priority draft, Ottawa selected highly-touted
Ben Blacker, but his commitment to Western Michigan University doesn’t seem
like a decision that’s going to be reversed.
Drafting a netminder this upcoming draft won’t give the team enough
stability next season once Trudeau graduates due to age.
It’s very possible that Hughes stays with Ottawa as a
long-term backup or 1-A goaltender.
His brother Aidan, also a goalkeeper, is eligible for the 2015 OHL draft.
The older Hughes may get his first OHL start on Friday when the 67's take on Belleville, the team that Blair recorded his only win of the season against.
Blair, a local product from Kanata, leaves the 67’s with a
7-21-2 record as an OHL netminder.
Fellow hometown player Owen Stewart has also left the team,
deciding that he didn’t want to play Major Junior hockey anymore.
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