IceDogs add local defenceman (updated with two minor deals)

The Niagara IceDogs have added Welland native Callum Cheynowski in a deal with the Brantford Bulldogs. Photo by: OHL IMAGES.

The Niagara IceDogs traded for the future Tuesday, adding a pair of young players from the Brantford Bulldogs.

Defenceman Callum Cheynowski and forward Mason Wray are heading to Niagara in exchange for overage and import defenceman Daniil Sobolev.

Cheynowski, a 2006-born defenceman from Welland, has skated in 49 career OHL games with the Bulldogs since being drafted in the third round (63rd overall) in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Southern Tier Admirals product began his junior hockey career in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League with the Thorold Blackhawks in the 2022-2023 season and posted 16 points in 26 games played. He would then earn a promotion to the OHL where he played in 18 regular season games and six playoff games with the Bulldogs, recording seven points. This season in 25 games played with the Bulldogs Cheynowski has five assists.

“It feels good knowing I’ll be playing in my hometown,” Cheynowski texted BPSN.

Wray, a 2006-born forward who hails from North Bay, played his minor hockey with the North Bay Trappers and posted 23 points in 23 games in his U16 season. He was drafted in the second round (49th overall) in 2022. In two seasons and 88 games  with the Bulldogs, the 6-foot-3, 177-pound forward has 13 points.

The IceDogs also added to their goaltending depth, acquired the playing rights to overage goaltender Anson Thornton from the Barrie Colts in exchange for a conditional 15th-round draft pick and dealt goalkeeper Charlie Burns to the Erie Otters for a 10th-round pick in 2026.

Thornton has spent this season in the AHL with the Tucson Roadrunners appearing in four games. His time in the OHL has been spent with the Colts and Sarnia Sting.

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