The Niagara IceDogs continue to make moves to improve on their 42-point season in 2023-24. GM Wes Consorti has now traded for six new players since the off-season began.
The team recently acquired 2006-born right-winger Sean Doherty from the Sarnia Sting in exchange for a 2025 5th-round (KIT) draft pick.
Doherty was selected 45th overall in the 3rd round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection by Sarnia and is coming off a 61-game campaign in which he tallied six goals and 17 points. Additionally, he only took three minor penalties all season long.
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Before acquiring Sean, Niagara had only one right-shot forward on their roster — Mathieu Paris.
The Scarborough, Ontario native should slot into the IceDog’s middle-six forward grouping, potentially playing alongside a couple of former high draft picks, Ethan Czata and Brady Wassilyn.
On the same day, the IceDogs also acquired defenseman Joey Wassilyn from the Guelph Storm in exchange for a 2025 13th-round draft pick.
Joey is the older brother of Niagara’s 4th overall pick in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, Braidy Wassilyn.
Joey was drafted by Guelph in the 15th round, 295th overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. The Etobicoke, Ontario native suited up in 49 games with the North York Rangers in the OJHL last season, recording five points and a staggering 111 penalty minutes.
Niagara’s new defenseman was listed at six feet and 240 pounds on Guelph’s training camp roster. Considering the number of penalty minutes he racked up last season and his size, we can assume that Joey will add aggressiveness and lots of physicality if and when he suits for the IceDogs.
There isn’t a ton of room on the backend and finding ice time for him in Niagara during the 2024-25 season will be a challenge.
However, if the Wassilyn brothers do get the chance to suit up in the same game together, it will be a moment their family will remember and cherish forever.
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