OHL Saginaw Spirit

Spirit Busy Leading up to Trade Deadline

Published on January 8, 2009 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Saginaw, MI) The Saginaw Spirit Hockey Club has completed multiple transactions with the approaching Ontario Hockey League trade deadline. The Spirit signed free agent power forward Ryan Schnell and traded winger Kain Allicock to Sudbury for a fourth round pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection.

The Spirit signed free agent power forward Ryan Schnell from the USHL. Schnell is an 1989-born native of Cary, Illinois that spent two seasons with the USHL Chicago Steel. He posted 20 points, 7 goals and 13 assists, and 244 PIM during his time with the Steel. Schnell was selected by the OHL Barrie Colts in the 2005 OHL Priority Selection, but chose to play with the US National Development program during the 2005-2006 season prior to joining the USHL.

"We added toughness and grit to our roster by signing this player," stated Spirit Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach Todd Watson, "Our number one priority this season has been finding someone that was both tough and skilled, and we feel we've found him in Ryan Schnell."

"I am excited to be joining the Ontario Hockey League and the Saginaw Spirit with its great hockey history and the caliber of it's players," said Ryan Schnell, "I feel that this move will be beneficial to my career and will provide a lot of professional exposure as I work towards my goals."

Schnell is slated to join the Spirit immediately, "I feel that I bring a lot of hockey experience, leadership, hard work, skill and toughness to the team, and that both the myself and the Spirit compliment each other nicely. I'm thankful for the opportunity to play for Saginaw and I'm anxious to jump in and contribute."

The Spirit also completed a trade with the Eastern Conference's Sudbury Wolves, sending winger Kain Allicock to Sudbury in return for a fourth round pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. Allicock joined the Spirit last season after being drafted by Saginaw in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection. The 1990-born Toronto native posted 8 points, 4 goals and 4 assists, and 99 PIM in 33 games this season.

"Sudbury has been seeking him for some time and they have become much more competitive with the addition of Kain and the other players they've picked up with the approaching deadline," stated Watson, "We appreciate Kain's contributions to the team and wish him the best of luck with Sudbury."

Watson said the team is still considering it's options with the approaching trade deadline, taking place this Friday at noon. "We are still exploring all options throughout the day, and are excited about the many great possibilities."

Other notable trades in the Ontario Hockey League this week:

Saturday - The London Knights sent Akim Aliu to the Sudbury Wolves in return for a fourth round pick (2009) and a sixth round pick (2010). The two teams also swapped picks in the 2009 CHL Import Draft. The trade is unique in that Aliu started his OHL career with the Wolves.

Tuesday - The Knights continued to make moves, trading Kale Kerbashian and a third round pick (2012) to the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors for Zac Rinaldo and a third round pick (2012). Both picks were conditional.

Wednesday - The trading frenzy picked up, with the Windsor Spitfires trading with the Kitchener Rangers for two Chicago Blackhawks prospects in goalie Josh Unice and defenseman Ben Shutron. They also picked up Scott Timmins in the deal. The Rangers got highly touted goalie prospect Brandon Maxwell, overager Jacob Lalonde, a third round pick (2009), a second round pick (SSM's 2010) and a second round pick (2011). Elsewhere in the OHL Western Conference, the Plymouth Whalers sent Nashville Predators drafted netminder Jeremy Smith and overage forward Patrick Lee to the Niagara IceDogs in return for a second round pick (2009), an eighth round pick (LND's 2010) and a fourth round pick (2011). The Guelph Storm completed a trade with the Belleville Bulls, getting a second round pick (KIT's 2009) in return for center Luke Pither.

Thursday - Perhaps the biggest news this week in the hockey world was the trading of phenom John Tavares and first round NHL pick of the New York Rangers Michael Del Zotto from the Oshawa Generals to the London Knights. Oshawa continued to deal later in the day sending defenseman David Corrente, brother of former Spirit defenseman Matt Corrente, to the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors for a third round pick (2009).

Stay tuned to www.ontariohockeyleague.com and www.saginawspirit.com for more information!

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2009


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