Jr Senators Trade Deadline Recap

Justin Ouellette in his second game with the Jr Senators.

By Rowan McCarthy

It was a busy trade deadline for Jr Senators GM Stuart Battrick who completed three trades. When all was said and done three players left the organization and a total of five players were added to the team.

“We wanted to make sure that we were giving ourselves the best chance to make the playoffs,” said GM Stuart Battrick. “If we could get younger while getting better that was the main objective.”

The first trade saw the Jr Senators send 20-year-old forward Gabriel Pelchat to Hawkesbury in exchange for Remi Gagne and 2008-born defender Keegan Shirley. Shortly thereafter, the Jr Senators completed a secondary deal that sent Gagne and Tristan Poor to Brockville for 2006-born forward Justin Ouellette.

Shirley, Hawkesbury’s third-round pick in the 2024 CCHL draft is currently at Shawinigan Lake School where he has nine points in 22 games with their U-18 prep team. At 6-foot-3 Shirley’s size is a huge asset that could give him an edge in trying to join the team next year. In talking with the scouting staff, Battrick noted that they felt Shirley was a no-brainer and a big add.

Ouellette jumped straight onto the top unit with Jack Matsukubo and Tomislav Brennan. In the two games he has played with that unit, Ouellette has two goals and two assists while the line has scored a combined 14 points. Ouellette and Matsukubo played together last season with the Jersey Hitmen.

“He [Ouellette] was my big focus during the trade deadline,” said Battrick. “I think the world of him offensively.”

In the third and final trade, the Jr Senators acquired Bennett Desroches, Mario Gianetti and Owen Traynor in exchange for captain Charles Poudrette.

“We’ve had him [Poudrette] for the last two years and grown close to him,” said Battrick. “It’s tough to see him go, but we’re getting back younger players and younger assets including Owen Traynor. Not many people in our league do what he does so we’re very excited to have a player like that in our organization moving forward.”

The 2007-born Traynor played 30 games for Brockville recording two assists this season. At 6-foot-5, Traynor is one of the biggest defenders in the league. Both Gianetti and Desroches, who are 2008-born players, are currently attending Ridley College, a prep school previously attended by Ethan Lobe.

After the trade, the team announced that Tomislav Brennan would take over as the captain of the Jr Senators moving forward. Brennan spent the last two years with the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL after winning a championship with the Jr Senators during the 2021-22 season. In 35 games this season, Brennan has 14 goals and 16 assists putting him second on the team in scoring. As a 2005-born player, Brennan can also return to the team next year to provide continuity.

Taken as a whole there are a few noticeable trends in these trades. Firstly, by trading away two 20-year-olds while adding a 2006-born player and a 2007-born player to their active roster, the Jr Senators got younger. Adding three 2008-born prospects only adds to this trend.

Additionally, overall team chemistry has improved since adding Ouellette to the top line. The natural chemistry between Ouellette Matsukubo and Brennan is obvious for all to see. However, Xavier Guillemette, Lobe and Wynston Iserhoff have also shown flashes of brilliance as an offensive force. Ben Kozyra, Antoine Demers and Clement Valette are playing a hard forechecking style that is causing opposing teams fits.

The team won their last two games in 2024 and has yet to lose a game in 2025. They are currently on a five-game winning streak that has seen them shoot upwards in the points. The Jr Senators sit tenth in the CCHL just two points out of a playoff spot. the road to a playoff spot isn’t an easy one, but there is every chance they can do it. Their next game on Friday, Jan 17, is a critical matchup against the Kemptville 73’s.