OHL North Bay Battalion

Troops acquire overage sniper from Rangers

Published on October 18, 2006 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


BRAMPTON, Ont. - The Brampton Battalion has acquired overage right winger Matt Auffrey from the Kitchener Rangers, the Ontario Hockey League club announced Tuesday.

The Battalion gave up second- and fifth-round picks in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection and the OHL rights to centre Jordan Hardy for Auffrey, who has three goals and one assist for four points in seven games this season.

Auffrey, a six-foot-two, 198-pound native of Cincinnati who turns 21 on Jan. 3, was chosen by Kitchener in the third round of the 2002 OHL Priority Selection from the Syracuse Stars of the Provincial Junior A League.

"He's a big body and pretty skilled player," said Stan Butler, Battalion director of hockey operations and head coach.

"He's a proven goal scorer and a natural right winger. He's good on the power play, and we're hoping he can help us improve that and help us score some goals at even strength. We gave up something significant in a second-round pick, but we still have 17 picks for next year."

Auffrey played two seasons with the United States national team development program, based at Ann Arbor, Mich., before entering the University of Wisconsin. He played 25 games with Wisconsin in 2004-05, recording three goals and five assists, and one game last season before joining the Rangers.

He played 59 games for Kitchener, scoring 24 goals and adding 26 assists for 50 points, and added one goal and two assists for three points in five playoff games.

Auffrey, a sixth-round pick of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the National Hockey League's 2004 Entry Draft who joins centre Howie Martin and defenceman Kyle Sonnenburg as Battalion overagers, is expected to make his debut with the Troops when they visit the Saginaw Spirit on Thursday night.

Hardy, a Kitchener resident who turns 17 on Nov. 26, was chosen in the 12th round of the 2005 OHL Priority Selection. He is with the Kitchener Dutchmen of the Midwestern Junior B League.

Auffrey's acquisition gives the Battalion a total of 25 players, comprising 15 forwards, eight defencemen and two goaltenders.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 18, 2006


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