By Pat Payton
St. Marys Lincolns acquired another forward just before last Thursday’s OHA trading deadline.
In a rather complicated three-team deal, Lincs obtained Jacob Bloomfield from Elmira Sugar Kings. Bloomfield was originally property of Listowel Cyclones, who dealt the 17-year-old forward to Elmira for forward Luke Israel. Lincolns then obtained Bloomfield from the Sugar Kings in exchange for physical forward Carson Gebauer.
Bloomfield had just one goal and two points in 19 games with Listowel. However, those numbers are deceiving, says Jim MacEachern, who is Lincs’ Director of Hockey Operations. MacEachern coached Bloomfield last season when both were members of the successful Waterloo Wolves Major Midget team. The Burford area native finished second or third in team scoring with the Wolves.
On the GOJHL website, Bloomfield is listed at 5 ft., 5 inches and 150 lbs. But don’t be fooled by those numbers, either, MacEachern says. “He’s not a very big kid, but he’ll be an exciting player for us,” the Director of Hockey Operations said. “He has a lot of speed and a lot of skill.”
Gebauer, meanwhile, had two goals and eight points in 32 games with St. Marys. The 17-year-old Waterloo native also played for MacEachern and the Major Midget Wolves last season.
In another deal, early in the New Year, Lincolns acquired 19-year-old forward Thomas McLatchie from St. Thomas Stars for cash. He played his first game with St. Marys on Jan. 5 in Komoka and scored his first goal in a Lincs’ uniform last Friday against Leamington Flyers.
MacEachern added that he was “disappointed” Lincolns didn’t acquire a defenceman before the Jan. 10 deadline.
“We did everything possible,” he told the Independent. “We could have gotten a lot of things, but we weren’t willing to give up our youth. We like what we have here. If we can get these kids back next season, we’re going to have a heckuva hockey team.”
First-place Nats busy
First-place London Nationals were a busy team at the deadline. The first-place Nats acquired forward Wes Dobbin from Komoka Kings in exchange for forwards Bryce Lewis and Ryan McAllister. In a separate deal, Nationals picked up goalie Eric Schneider from Pelham Panthers.
In another transaction, London obtained veteran forward Adam Keyes from St. Thomas for former Lincs’ defenceman Jack Wieringa and forward Brady Elder.
