Fredericton Red Wings (MHL) and Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL)
Red Wings Make Deal For Rugged Defenceman
The Fredericton Red Wings reached into Northern Ontario to land a player one day before the Maritime Hockey League trade deadline.
Fredericton acquired 19-year-old defenceman Braydon Crowe from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Powassan Voodoos for future considerations.
The Red Wings certainly became bigger with the acquisition, landing Crowe who is a right-shooting defenceman checking in at six-foot-three and 193 points.
The Coburg, ON, resident has amassed 173 penalty minutes over three seasons in the NOJHL including this year with the Voodoo and two years with the French River Rapids.
Crowe had two assists and 36 penalty minutes in 15 games this year with Powassan.
He will join the Red Wings on the weekend and is expected make his first appearance on Jan. 15 in Grand Falls against the Rapids.
The trade for Crowe means the Red Wings have added three players to the line up over the past few days.
‘In talking with Braydon, he sounds really happy to get a chance to join the Red Wings and bring some of his grit to the team,’ said Red Wings’ general manager, Brent Grant. ‘We felt we needed a little sand paper. We are hopeful he will bring that to our team. We are not asking Braydon to come in and be a point getter, we are asking him to come in and bring what he does best. We look forward to him making his first appearance at home next week.’
The Red Wings have until 8 p.m. on Friday to make further roster changes before the junior A deadline passes.
At that point, rosters are set for the season and the playoff runs for all respective clubs.
Fredericton sits three points ahead of the Campbellton Tigers for third spot in the EastLink North Division. The Red Wings are 11 points ahead of fifth place Grand Falls with 19 games remaining.
The top four teams will advance to the playoffs.
The Red Wings a full core of seven defencemen including the recent acquisition of Marc- Antoine Couture in the Evan White deal with the Edmundston Blizzard.
Fredericton is still hopeful on the return of Aiden MacIntosh from the Saint John Sea Dogs. He was recalled by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last week.
The Red Wings next action is at home against the Miramichi Timberwolves on Thursday, a 7 p.m. start at the Grant*Harvey Centre.
