The Barrie Colts and Kingston Frontenacs completed a five-player trade Wednesday.
Barrie has acquired forwards Josh Brittain and Peter Stevens in exchange for forwards Mitch Lebar and Colton Kennedy, along with defensemen Brian Lashoff.
Brittain will be regarded as the best player in the deal; he was third in team scoring in Kingston with 24 points in 27 games. After scoring 28 goals last season, the Anaheim Ducks’ third-round selection is on pace for a 40-goal season, with 17 goals.
They have also picked up tough-guy right-winger Peter Stevens who collected 127 penalty minutes in back-to-back seasons and has 56 minutes in 27 games played this year. Peter is on pace for career best numbers in both goals and points.
“Well, I think we got one of the elite scorers in the league with Josh Brittain,” according to Head Coach Marty Williamson. “He’s a big-time scorer, a proven player, he’s got 17 goals so far this year and he’s obviously the centrepiece of the deal.
“Stevens is an honest, hard-working player that brings an intimidation factor to the team and he’s a great leader in the dressing room and brings some character. We added some real size with both players and we feel that we have added two big pieces to this puzzle that we’re trying to put together.”
The Colts are sending three players to Kingston, led by sophomore centre Lebar. Originally Barrie’s first-round pick, 17th overall in 2007, Mitch was sixth in team scoring with 13 points in 27 games.
Kennedy, selected five picks ahead of Lebar in the ‘07 Draft, was brought to Barrie in the blockbuster six-player swap between Barrie and Sarnia last season. In 48 games with the Colts, Kennedy has amassed only 15 points.
The lone defensemen in the deal is Brian Lashoff, who has been a regular player for the Colts for the past two and a half years. Recently signed by the Detroit Red Wings, Brian scored eight goals and 45 points in 122 career games with the Colts.
Both Brittain and Stevens were expected to be in the lineup Wednesday night for the Colts game in Owen Sound.
