IceDogs swing two more trades
The Niagara IceDogs continue to wheel and deal.
The team announced two trades Monday involving three players and up to 10 draft choices.
Centre Pasquale Zito is heading to the North Bay Battalion in exchange for centre Michael Podolioukh and multiple draft picks.
The IceDogs will receive a second-round pick in 2026 (North Bay), a second-round pick in 2026 (Kingston), a third-round pick in 2023 (Sudbury) as well as a conditional picks in 2025 (third round, North Bay) and (fifth round, Kitchener).
“We were presented with an offer we felt was right for the IceDogs today and tomorrow,” IceDogs general manager Darren DeDobbelaer said in a press release. “We are losing a great player but returning a great player as well as picks that will help us build.”
Zito, 19, had seven goals and 12 assists in 23 games for Niagara this season. He was acquired from the Windsor Spitfires in June for six draft picks — second-round selections in 2023 (Oshawa) and 2024 (Oshawa) as well as a fourth in 2024 (Niagara), a sixth in 2024 (Niagara) and two conditional choices.
Podolioukh, 18, was the Battalion’s fourth-round (70th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens U16 program. Now in his second OHL season, the 6-foot-2 forward has one goal and six points in 21 games for North Bay this season.
The IceDogs then flipped four draft picks to the Mississauga Steelheads for forward Zakary Lavoie.
Lavoie, 18, has 11 goals and 19 points with the Steelheads this season after netting 23 goals in his rookie campaign last year.
“We are very excited to add Zakary,” DeDobbelaer said. “He is a pure goal scorer and will help us instantly.”
Heading to the Steelheads are five picks: a fourth round in 2023 (Windsor), a third round in 2024 (Saginaw), a second round in 2025 (London), a second round in 2026 (London) and a third round in 2026 (London).
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