OUELLET TRADE OFFICIAL

The Saint John Sea Dogs have officially traded disgruntled forward Olivier Ouellet and a 2010 sixth round pick to the Shawinigan Cataractes. Saint John receives a 2010 fifth round draft choice in the QMJHL entry draft in return. It is reported that iF Ouellet plays as an overager next season, the Sea Dogs will get an additional draft pick.

The deal was first reported late last night by Steve Turcotte of Le Nouvelliste. He reported that the Sea Dogs had acquired an additional draft pick however. A Chicoutimi newspaper had the transaction correct this morning.

Ouellet left the Sea Dogs on November 19 due to what the team is calling “personal reasons.” No other details were given out, but Turcotte did say in his article that Ouellet was “dissatisfied with his use.” Another newspaper reported that Ouellet did indeed leave the team because he was frustrated with his limited ice time.

The speedy winger played in just 25 games this season before heading back home to Drummondville. He has six goals, nine assists, and six penalty minutes in those games. He had been playing mostly on a line with Steven Anthony and Michael Kirkpatrick but was often juggled back due to the arrival of Nicholas Petersen and Mike Hoffman.

He joined the Sea Dogs last season after a midseason trade with Chicoutimi, a deal that saw Saint John give up a second round draft pick. In 23 games with Saint John last season, he had eight goals and 13 assists. In his 149 QMJHL career, Oullet has 37 goals and 50 assists.

Ouellet was expected to be traded from the club after his departure. In fact, the night after he left the Sea Dogs were in his home town of Drummondville but was nowhere to be seen. Reports say that his has had a number of attitude problems in his career.

The Sea Dogs have made two trades now since the trading window opened on Saturday afternoon. The other deal saw the Dogs acquire Christian Morin from the Val-d'Or Foreurs for Benjamin Lecomte.

Both Lecomte and Ouellet were expected to be traded. The only other player who may be heading out of town is Nicolas Pard, who sat out the last two periods of the Sea Dogs'7-1 win in Halifax last Friday. No details have been given on the scratch.

With both players now gone, the real fun begins for Director of Hockey Operations Mike Kelly.