Spits land garagan from Bulldogs
Windsor Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel wasn’t looking to make a big, splashy deal at Thursday’s Ontario Hockey League deadline, nor was he offered the opportunity to make one. In numbers, Rychel was involved in three of the 11 deals prior to Thursday’s noon deadline, but there was no blockbuster trade made by any of the league’s 20 teams.
“There wasn’t a big deal to be had,” Rychel said. “There was nothing really pending (Thursday). It was rather quiet on our side. We made little moves.” After trading forward Mathew MacDougall on Thursday for three draft picks, Rychel filled his roster spot by adding 19-year-old Ben Garagan from the defending OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs. “Garagan’s a good move for us as a 12th forward,” Rychel said. “He has experience and will fill the grinding, checking role for us.” The five-foot-11, 180-pound Garagan was a fifth-round pick by Sudbury in 2015, but had played parts of three seasons in Hamilton. “It came as a shock to me,” Garagan said of the deal. “When the month of January comes around, it’s always stressful for every team. “Hamilton was a great place for me, and the guys were great and (management) good to me. “It’s always tough leaving, but hockey ’s all about opportunity and I’m pretty happy about (going to Windsor).”
In return, the Spitfires sent a 15th-round pick in the 2022 OHL draft to Hamilton. That will become a fifth-round pick if Garagan plays an overage season.
“I know Windsor won a Memorial Cup two years ago, and we went on a good run last year, and I’d like to bring that experience,” Garagan said. “I’ve been in the league for four years now and I think I can provide a leadership role.”
In 189 regular-season games, Garagan has eight goals and 26 points along with 116 penalty minutes, but is currently sidelined by a wrist injury and won’t be available to play for the Spitfires for at least a week. “I’m a gritty forward with some skill as well,” Garagan said. “I did some penalty killing (in Hamilton) and played on the power play as well.”
Rychel also dealt 19-year-old goalie Lucas Patton to the Guelph Storm for a 12th-round pick in 2020.
“Guelph wanted him for some goalie depth,” Rychel said. Patton was signed by the Spitfires as a free agent and got into six games last season. He backed up for a game this season, but has been playing junior B in Kitchener. Windsor also added some goaltending depth by acquiring the rights to goaltender Jackson Bernard from the Erie Otters for the rights to forward Reid Russett. The 17-year-old Bernard was a 15th-round pick by the Otters in 2017 and started the season in the North American Hockey League with the Chippewa Steel, but is now with the junior B LaSalle Vipers.
Russett was a second-round pick by the Spitfires in the 2018 Under-18 draft, but did not sign with the club and is playing in Smiths Falls.
“We get some goalie depth with Bernard,” Rychel said.
Any other roster help the Spitfires might need for the rest of the season, in the event of an injury or a suspension, will have to come off the LaSalle roster. “You’re always hoping to do things, but there’s not a lot of chips to deal with,” Rychel said. “Plus, there will be (new) guys coming in next season. Maybe one or two on the back end (defence) and two or three up front.”