VETERaN 67’S EXTEND WELCOME MAT FOR NEW NETMINDER

The Ontario Hockey League’s leading goal-scorer still remembers the day he joined the Ottawa 67’s midway through the 2016-17 season via trade from the Saginaw Spirit.

“I just can’t remember any red carpet,” Tye Felhaber, who has 29 goals in 29 games this season, said as he prepared to head to the Ottawa airport for the Tuesday evening arrival of goaltender Mikey DiPietro.

Felhaber, who doubles as 67’s unofficial social director, was one of seven veterans in the welcoming party, along with Sasha Chmelevski, Austen Keating, Noel Hoefenmayer, Mitchell Hoelscher, Kevin Bahl and Hudson Wilson.

On Tuesday morning, the trade was only a rumour until head coach André Tourigny entered the 67’s dressing room after practice to deliver the news.

“The room just filled up with excitement,” Felhaber said. “We all know how special he is. He’s the best goalie in the (Canadian Hockey League).

“Him coming here makes it just that much more exciting … even though we were already having a good year. As soon as the tweets went out, the texts started arriving and everyone we know is just as excited for us as we are about getting him.”

DiPietro is expected to practise with the 67’s on Wednesday morning, before his formal introduction to Ottawa media.

He will be back on the ice Thursday morning, then head back to Windsor for a charity event that night. He won’t arrive back in Ottawa until Friday afternoon, possibly just hours before the 67’s take on the Gatineau Olympiques.

Those two teams will meet again at TD Place arena on Saturday afternoon, and the Peterborough Petes will pay a visit on Sunday before DiPietro heads to the Canadian junior team selection camp in Victoria.

“I am going to talk to him Friday when he gets back, but that’s a long day,” Tourigny said. “There are no direct flights from Windsor.

“For sure, he gets the net Saturday, but we will see about Friday.”