Staff
The Fort Frances Jr. Sabres have sold off some of their remaining assets with just over a month to go before the puck drops on the SIJHL season.
Rainy River native Dan Usiski has been sent to the Aurora Tigers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Usiski tallied 19 goals, 33 assists and 115 penalty minutes in his first full season with the Sabres last winter. He added two goals and three assists in eight playoff games.
Meanwhile, Williams Lake, B.C. native Kenny Carpenter, who was acquired by the Sabres just prior to the beginning of last season, will be joining Usiski in the OJHL—just with a different uniform.
Carpenter will suit up for the Lindsay Muskies next season. The 20-year-old defenceman recorded six goals and 19 assists with the Sabres last season, including two assists in the post-season.
Last season’s standout rookie, Mike Boese, will be joining the previously traded Brendan Baumgartner with the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
Dauphin is the host of the junior ‘A’ championship RBC Cup this year, and will have an automatic bye to the event. Boese also joins Fort Frances native Kyle Turgeon in the MJHL, who was traded to the Portage Terriers last month.
Boese led all Sabres’ defenceman a season ago with seven goals and 21 assists. He recorded three assists in the Sabres two playoff rounds.
Lastly, Atikokan product Graham Dyck was sent to the Miramichi Timberwolves of the Maritimes Junior ‘A’ Hockey League.
Dyck finished with nine goals and 14 assists in his second season with the local squad while providing a gritty, two-way game evidenced by his team-leading 131 minutes in penalties.
He proved a strong playoff performer with two goals and five assists in eight playoff match-ups.
Meanwhile, the recent release of the SIJHL schedule has the Sabres opening the year as hosts to the league champion Fort William North Stars on Sept. 17.
Their first road game has been set for Sept. 18 against the expansion K & A Wolverines.
However, no official sale of the franchise has yet been announced.
