Ottawa, Ontario – The Ottawa Jr. Senators announced Tueday evening that they have traded ’00 F Griffin McGregor and ’00 F Grant Turner to the Nepean Raiders in exchange for ’98 F Geoff Dempster.
Dempster, 20, is competing in his fourth and final year in the CCHL and has 18 points (10 G / 8 A) in 19 games this year. The Ottawa, Ontario native lives five minutes from the rink and has played inside the Jim Durrell Sports Complex for most of his minor hockey career.
Ottawa Jr. Senators Head Coach Martin Dagenais says that he is a big addition to the roster.
“Adding a natural scorer who has been in our league for a few years will be a benefit to our offense. We feel that Dempster can play a top 6 role for us, and that his size will help us come playoff time.”
He will also join his best friend Noah Rowe on Ottawa’s roster for the final time in their Junior Hockey careers after they played hockey together growing up and on Nepean’s roster last year.
“When a player of Dempster’s stature is available, you have to see if there’s a way you can add him to your team. He’s 20 now, and he’ll have a chance to compete for a championship so we know he’ll be highly motivated.”
On the other side, the Jr. Senators had to give up two talented 18-year-old forwards in McGregor and Turner.
“When you get a good player in a trade, you always have to give up something just as good in return. Griffin McGregor and Grant Turner are young players with a promising future in this league, and we think they will do well in Nepean.”
Dagenais says that dealing McGregor was difficult because he was a huge part of their championship run last season.
“For us, it was extremely difficult to deal Griffin because he’s been with our organization for close to four years now, and he was a big part of our championship team last season. He’s scored some big goals for us in the finals, and at the Fred Page Cup, and we will never forget that. However, sometimes hockey decisions have to be made, and that’s what this trade was.”
Ottawa’s next game will take place this Thursday when they play the Kanata Lasers at 7:30 inside the Tom Flood arena.
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