HOFFMAN SENT TO SAINT JOHN

The Ottawa Senators have issued draft pick Mike Hoffman to Saint John. The Sea Dogs acquired the sniper in a trade that sent Chris DiDomenico to the Volts at Christmas. The seemingly impossible feat became real yesterday morning when the Senators issued a press release on the teams website.

Hoffman comes back to junior after scoring 52 goals and 94 points on the explosive Drummondville Voltigeurs last season. He helped the Volts win a QMJHL championship and went on to participate in the Memorial Cup.

Similar to Chris DiDomenico, Hoffman was passed over by the Ontario Hockey League. Unlike DiDomenico, he was drafted into the OHL. He joined the Gatineau Olympics in 2007-08 before being traded to Drummondville at Christmas. He had a combined 24 goals and 48 points between the two teams.

He played in a league of his own last season finishing second in league scoring and fifth in points. He also had 21 goals and 13 assists in 19 playoff games last year.

Hoffman returns to junior from Ottawa Senators training camp, where it seemed he was all but a lock to play for the baby Sens in Binghamton.

He will make his 2009-10 season debut with the Sea Dogs on Wednesday when they host the PEI Rocket. He joins Alex Leduc and Marc-Antoine Gelinas as the teams overagers.