The Powassan Voodoos shook up the locker room on Tuesday as the team shipped goaltender Ben Auger to the Cochrane Crunch in exchange for 20-year-old goaltender Matt Young and import defenceman James Vuillemot.
Voodoos General Manager Chris Dawson feels it was a solid hockey trade.
“We needed some more experience and Cochrane likes Ben Auger, who has played solid in the games we have played against the Crunch early this season. For us, we needed to add more veteran leadership and bringing in a pair of 20-year-olds will do that.
“In Vuillemot, we get a big, physical defenceman with lots of junior A experience who while help anchor our young blue line,” Dawson said about the 6’3″, 220 pound defenceman.
Young joins the Voodoos after holding a 5-1 record, a stingy 2.67 goals against average and a .929 save percentage, which is 2nd best in the NOJHL.
“Matt is a mature, veteran goaltender who I believe will work very well with Jack Ondrovic,” said Dawson.
Voodoos head coach Scott Wray supported the move.
“It was tough giving up Ben but we needed to get older at that position and to get a twenty year old goalie and defenseman in the process we couldn’t say no,” said Wray.
“I want to thank Ben for his contribution to the team this year and wish him all the best in Cochrane.”
Vuillemot and Young are expected to be in the Voodoos lineup Friday when they host the Abitibi Eskimos. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Powassan Sportsplex.
On Saturday, the Voodoos will face Nathan Hewitt and his Elliot Lake Wildcats. That game is also set for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.
