Remparts trade Smallwood to Eagles

In a surprise move, defenceman Ian Smallwood was traded to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Tuesday.

The move came as a surprise because it was the Quebec Remparts that traded him to Cape Breton (for a 2018 ninth-round pick) and not the Saint John Sea Dogs. The 18-year-old has spent parts of the past two seasons with the Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs apparently removed him from their protected list after he was cut from training camp, allowing his rights to be picked up by the Remparts.

Smallwood started the season in the MHL with the Woodstock Slammers but was later traded to South Shore Lumberjacks. In 17 MHL games this season, the St. John's native has two goals and 13 assists.

Smallwood was a ninth-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft. He spent most of the 2015-16 season with the Saint John Vito's.

By the sounds of it, the defenceman could soon be in Cape Breton's lineup. There's little doubt he will put up huge numbers against Saint John in a future meeting, because that's just how things go.

.@CBSEHockey have acquired Ian Smallwood from Quebec for a 9th Rd Pick. Smallwood will sign as an AP & will be in Charlottetown Wednesday

— Kris Abbott (@EastlinkKris) November 7, 2017

Some other MHL news...

• There were some doubters about this happening, but Nico Blachman is indeed joining the St. Stephen Aces, the team announced Monday. The former Sea Dogs forward started the year with the Rimouski Oceanic before leaving the club.
• Ben Reid made his return to the Aces this past weekend and scored a goal in Saturday's game.
• Former Sea Dog Jordan King, the captain of the Amherst Ramblers, sits third in MHL scoring with 11 goals and 27 points in 16 games.
• Further west, Bryson Michel has a goal in 12 games with the CCHL's Nepean Raiders.